Tigers moving up the draft board due to free agent signings

The Detroit Tigers finished tied for the fifth best record in major league baseball with 90 wins for  the 2014 season. That put them in line to receive the 26th overall selection in the first round of the amateur player draft which will be held in June, 2015. The Houston Astros receive an extra pick, second overall, because they did not sign their first selection a year ago.

The Tigers’ draft position continues to improve as teams sign free agent players who have declined qualifying offers, costing their new clubs a first round selection.

The Tigers stand to receive a supplemental pick should Max Scherzer sign with another club. That selection will be no lower than 37th overall. The Tigers could lose their own selection should they sign another free agent who is subject to compensation, and they will not receive a supplemental first round pick if they resign Scherzer.

There were twelve players subject to compensation when all of them rejected qualifying offers. That number was reduced to eleven when the Tigers signed Victor Martinez. The Mets signed Michael Cuddyer, the Toronto Blue Jays signed Russell Martin, and the Seattle Mariners signed Nelson Cruz, costing those clubs lost their own first round selections. Consequently, the Tigers moved up the board three spots, and are now sitting at number 23.

There are six elite free agents who are subject to compensation remaining to be signed, and if they are signed by one of the twelve teams who are ahead of the Tigers on the board, and not among the ten clubs who have protected first round selections, the Tigers will move up another notch for each player that signs with a new team.

Supplemental round selections are awarded to teams who lose a free agent player who has declined a qualifying offer, given in reverse order of winning percentage in the 2014 season.

One year ago, there were nine players who received qualifying offers, all nine rejected the offers, and two players signed with their former teams, leaving seven compensation picks in the 2014 draft, which were added between the 28th and 34th overall picks.

The Boston Red Sox have signed two free agents who are subject to compensation, but their first round selection is protected, so Boston will lose their next two highest picks.

Following is the draft order for the first round of the 2015 amateur player draft, subject to change with free agent signings.

* Houston receives No 2 pick for not signing No 1 pick Brady Aiken in 2014 draft

Mets lose No 15 pick for signing Michael Cuddyer

Blue Jays lose No 17 pick for signing Russell Martin

Mariners lose No 21 pick for signing Nelson Cruz

The following chart shows the draft order for the supplemental round selections with players tied to compensation. For each of these players who resigns with his current club, there will be no supplemental pick, and every team in this round will move up a notch.

Following the supplemental first round selections, there will be six "competitive balance" selections made as follows:

Competitive Balance Round A

40. Marlins

41. Rockies

42. Cardinals

43. Brewers

44. Padres

45. Indians

The Tigers next selection will be in the second round, currently slotted at number 70. That pick will also move up one slot for each elite free agent who signs with his current club.

Following the second round, there will be another six "competitive balance" picks, which are as follows:

Competitive Balance Round B

1. Reds
2. Athletics- traded to Boston for Jon Lester, lost for signing Ramirez
   
3. Mariners
4. Twins- lost for signing E Santana
5. Orioles
6. Diamondbacks

MLB.com has come out with an early preview of the top 50 draft prospects for the 2015 draft.