White Sox-Phillies 2-Game Series Carries Protected Pick Implications
(CBS) Whether the White Sox intend to repeat their fix-it-on-the-fly approach via free agency this offseason or rebuild from scratch, a strong case either way can be made that they're better off losing their games the next two evenings against the Phillies.
As the two squads prepare to start a two-game series Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field, they're neck-and-neck for the 10th-worst record in baseball. Philadelphia is 58-67 and currently resides in that exact spot. Meanwhile, Chicago is two games better, with the 11th-worst mark in baseball.
This is notable because the top 10 draft picks are protected, which carries implications in free agency and the following year's amateur draft in June. Teams that sign free agents who've declined a qualifying offer (a one-year deal which was worth $15.8 million last offseason) must forfeit a draft pick. If that team is among the 10 worst, it holds onto that top-10 pick and forfeits its next-best draft pick. If a club isn't among the 10 worst, it forfeits its first pick, starting as early as No. 11 overall.
While the strength of the draft class and a front office's selection is most meaningful, this distinction can matter too.
As it pertains to the White Sox, they made big free-agent splashes following the 2014 season. If they mimic that approach with a player who's declined a qualifying offer, their positioning inside or outside the top 10 matters.
Of course, if rebuilding from the ground up is the plan, it'd also be beneficial to lose and get a higher slot.