The San Diego Padres Do Not Need To Start Locking Up Their Young Players

This article originally appeared on Friar Forecast The rule IV draft is fun for fans of losing teams. It is an outlet for hope, and adds a little excitement to an otherwise dull season.  It also helps highlight the importance of consistently developing major league quality players from within, and helps educate fans about concepts such as team control. Recently, a reader, who like many of us, followed the draft carefully, and keeps close tabs on the Padres’ minor league system, asked an interesting question: “Now that the draft is over, which of the Padres’ young players should they lock up, buying out their arbitration years”? The answer: Nobody. Let me explain. While buying out the arbitration years of young star players is often a good idea, unless the player is an Albert Pujols/Evan Longoria/Hanley Ramirez type star, I see no reason to negotiate in the first three years of team control. In those years, teams are able to pay players the minimum allowa...