A’s Win a Competitive Balance Lottery Selection

There are dividends to being a poor team in a lousy market in the new collective bargaining agreement. One of them? The competitive balance draft. Fourteen teams were eligible to receive picks, the A’s being one of them, for one of twelve picks (six following the first round, six following the second). The A’s won the fourth pick following the second round. This pick is actually one that can be traded by the A’s, though it can’t be traded in the offseason meaning Oakland may be able to trade it in a deadline deal. How much is the pick worth is beyond me but it is something to keep in mind if the prospect light A’s wish to make a deal.