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Atlanta Braves’ handling of Carter Stewart might open new draft leverage for others

By Alan Carpenter

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 18: Scott Boras, agent of right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers, who was selected in the compensation first round (41st overall) of the 2012 MLB First Year Player Draft, is speaks during a press conference at Minute Maid Park on June 18, 2012 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 18: Scott Boras, agent of right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers, who was selected in the compensation first round (41st overall) of the 2012 MLB First Year Player Draft, is speaks during a press conference at Minute Maid Park on June 18, 2012 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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SECAUCUS, NJ – JUNE 07: A detailed view of the first overall pick of the Washington Nationals Bryce Harper on the draft board during the MLB First Year Player Draft on June 7, 2010 held in Studio 42 at the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NJ – JUNE 07: A detailed view of the first overall pick of the Washington Nationals Bryce Harper on the draft board during the MLB First Year Player Draft on June 7, 2010 held in Studio 42 at the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

It won’t be a floodgate thrown open, but if your team loses a stud draft pick sometime in the future, you might be pointing to this episode as the reason why.

Generally speaking, major league baseball controls the financial aspects of the annual Rule 4 draft – almost down to the penny.  All teams, the Atlanta Braves included, adhere to the guidelines for slot values and pool monies available to spend because… well, it’s because they have to.

The penalties for non-compliance are definitely a deterrent to bucking any trends: a relatively minor tax for exceeding bonus pool allotments within 5% is one thing; going nuts and spending up to another 5% costs you next year’s 1st round draft pick.

Nobody even wants to think seriously about doing that… never mind the additionally draconian penalties for going even higher with their spending.

As it is, I’m still surprised that the Boston Red Sox chose to spend so much above the payroll luxury tax threshold that their penalty will be to drop 10 places to #43 overall – well into the 2nd round.

So there are limits that teams are wary of.  But the players drafted have certain expectation as well, and if they aren’t met, then there can be problems.

This year, 4 teams will receive 1st round compensation picks as consolation prizes for the fact that they were unable to come to terms with their 2019 draftees.

As you’re most likely aware, the Atlanta Braves are one of these 4, and they hold the highest-level compensation pick this year at #9 overall for failing to sign pitcher Carter Stewart.

I am personally still very curious about the full circumstances of Carter Stewart’s fall from being picked #8 overall and then progressed as follows:

  • from being confident in a signing…
  • to extended silence…
  • to a leaked injury report…
  • to denials…
  • and finally to a procedurally token offer being made with the expectation that Stewart and his agent (Scott Boras) would reject it.

But that’s all now water under the bridge (and no – I’m not trying to make a Brian Bridge pun there).

After a minor row, the Braves – after a hearing – were granted their compensation pick and Stewart enrolled in a JuCo school so as to be ready for the 2019 draft.

But a funny thing happened on the way to July 2019.

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