So with the Yankees/Mets nearly finished for 2008, looking to the future is always an interesting thing. Ken Davidoff wrote earlier in the week about the state of both teams farm systems.  The Yankees are in  far better shape from all reports than the Mets, and why is that?  Money. Selig and those that run MLB have set up a system where they put a monetary value on each draft slot, based on the money that has been given as a signing bonus in previous years, and in line with all the other slots.  These are recommendations only, as Selig would upset too many owners if he started telling them what to do. The idea is that it keeps signing bonuses lower so that any club should be able to afford any player, but it also is supposed to take some leverage away from agents since if every team follows the guidelines there is a max amount the guy can get.  Sure the player can not sign and sit out a year, he might even get taken higher, or he might get injured and be taken much lower.  The risk is primarily on the player in that system.  Some teams, like the Mets, pride themselves on being “good citizens” and working under the parameters set forth by MLB.  They may see the bigger picture, or they may be looking for a reason to be cheap….hard to say. It may also make them feel that if they follow this rule, then they can vary from MLB somewhere else without creating too much disfavor. Anyway, the Mets follow the slotting recommendations, and are very strict about it.  The Yankees do not, not since 2005, as Davidoff’s article points out.  And whose farm system has improved markedly since 2005?  And who’s major league payroll has climbed markedly since 2005?  Sure, if the Yankees and the few other teams that don’t pay attention to slot money followed it, the agents would lose the power, but as long as one team ignores it– Tampa Bay or Arizona– then the slot system only creates disparity because the Royals or even the Mets have to take a lesser player who they believe will sign.  The slot system does help a team plan its budget, as if knows 9 months ahead what slot it will be picking and therefore how much money they will spend on those picks maximum, ad if you are following it, you have to follow it for all picks otherwise you will only sign the guy that you do give over-slot money for.  The Yankees have shown that the free market works, if you have the money and restrictions half-way, as in “recommendations”, only create ore disparity.  Drafting is all a gamble, but so is signing free agents to big contracts. Thoughts?