OK, here are some random thoughts. I am open to other views.
“Recently, MLB has worked to build deeper connections to college baseball, although the exact depth of their relationship under the “One Baseball” model is not entirely clear,” said the article.
If MLB was willing to invest MEANINGFUL money into college baseball, they would be investing in their own minor league organizations instead, which they can control. It reads to me like interesting talk but will any substantial action result?
What college baseball would like is for MLB to stop raiding the high school players they spend so much time and effort recruiting, only to see them picked off in the draft. I don’t mean this in a bad way, but everyone is looking out for themselves. So, yes, college baseball would like a shorter, later draft. Still as we saw this year, even with the shortest draft in history, MLB still kept taking the best high schoolers for themselves.
Having said that, using colleges to supplant some of the minor leagues for player development is not necessarily a bad idea, except for the towns that lose affiliated ball and the players who need more time to develop. The independent model is a tough one to make work. But back to college and development, the pressure just shifts, as the stress on the colleges and their players will be increasing.
All college sports are dependent on football money and that is not going to change. The 11.7 scholarship maximum in college baseball is a major limitation that does not look to be expanding. Now more kids will be competing for the same scraps of aid. The players from families less well off financially are going to have more trouble staying in the game long enough to have a hope of being drafted.
To the big picture, I remain skeptical that MLB is sincere about furthering the game in areas they cannot directly profit from. The article cited money to be made by MLB’s data arm when they take control of the minors. I see how that helps profitability, but how will it grow the game?
Exercising control of the game at all levels may not be a good thing given MLB’s track record. And, by the way, why is MLB keeping its “One Baseball” initiative a secret if it is so great and they are so benevolent?
P.S. I hope I am wrong. I want the game to thrive, not fade away. I just lack confidence that MLB will provide that leadership.