My understanding of the qualifying offer is that the Royals get the same pick regardless.
Rules:
- If you sign a player who holds a qualifying offer, you surrender your first round pick, unless you have a pick in the top 10, in which case you would surrender your second pick (whether second round, a comp pick or a competitive balance pick).
- The surrendered pick simply vanishes. Everyone behind it moves up a spot. For example, the Orioles' 17th pick would cease to exist, and the Royals would actually move up from the 18th pick in Round 1 to the 17th pick.
- The team that lost the player gets a compensation pick AFTER the first round but before the competitive balance round.
So, how does this break out for KC?
If the Orioles sign Ervin Santana, KC will get:
Pick No. 17 in Round 1 (assuming none of the 4 teams in front of them sign another player with a QO, like Kendrys Morales, Nelson Cruz, Stephen Drew)
Pick No. 34 (Comp Round pick - for Santana - could slide down if more QO guys are signed)
Pick No. 39 (Competitive Balance pick - could slide down a few slots as QO guys are signed)
Pick No. 57 (round 2 pick - could slide up if someone like the Mariners - who have a protected round 1 pick - signs Nelson Cruz or Stephen Drew)
Four picks in the top 60 is pretty sweet. Lot of money to play with in the draft.
Here's a link to the current
draft order.
I would feel bad for Erv if he ends up in Baltimore. Not a good fit for him, at all.
