Of the 12 pitchers taken with the No. 1 pick in the baseball draft, two were selected from high school -- David Clyde, promoted directly to the majors in a publicity stunt that ruined his career, and Brien Taylor, who blew out his shoulder in a bar fight.
The 10 pitchers selected from college combined for 97 seasons in the major leagues, with an 805-827 record and three All-Star appearances -- one for the club that drafted the player (Andy Benes, for the San Diego Padres, in 1993).
This is the kind of track record that raises eyebrows -- not only among owners, but among players who have established themselves as major leaguers and wonder about Strasburg.
"If he comes in and gets $30 million, I'm happy for him," said the Angels' Torii Hunter, a two-time All-Star. "If they're giving it away, you might as well take it. If it was me, I'm doing the same thing.
"But you've got guys in here who have proven themselves and haven't made $30 million."
Boras, who did not return calls for this column, has done a tremendous job in raising the profile of draft picks and highlighting their worth to teams.
In 1988, he got Benes a $235,000 bonus, the first time since the inception of the draft that a bonus had topped $200,000.
The owners instituted the draft in 1965, putting a halt to bidding wars after the Angels signed outfielder Rick Reichardt for $205,000 in 1964.
The Benes bonus was roughly four times the minimum major league salary that year, half the average salary. The Chicago White Sox signed infielder Gordon Beckham last year for a record bonus of $6.15 million, about 16 times the minimum major league salary and twice the average salary.
The exploitation is long over. Let the owners and the union devise a system that satisfies the needs of both sides, allowing draft picks to be traded and slotting the bonuses for those picks. The union need not accept predetermined amounts. Just tie the bonus amounts to some multiple of the average salary, so bonuses rise as salaries do.
And let the kids play, rather than let negotiations play out.
Weaver got to play for a hometown team and a perennial contender, so the memory of the idle, bittersweet summer did not linger.
"It was all kind of disappointing when I didn't go in the top five picks," he said, "but it all worked out for me."
On behalf of the next generation, he endorses reform.
"With slots, it would be great, without all the negotiations," Weaver said, "as long as the kid is getting treated fairly."
Fairness is in the eye of the beholder, of course. On this issue, it is time for the owners and the players' union to see eye to eye.
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