The MLB Draft lottery did not provide the Mets the riches they desired.
Cleveland secured the first overall pick during the second annual MLB Draft Lottery on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee. Despite only having a two percent chance after posting the ninth-worst record (76-86) during the 2023 season, they won the golden ticket.
The Mets had a 4.3 percent chance to attain the first pick after posting the seventh-worst record (75-87) in 2023. Instead, because they did not receive a top-six pick, their pick will not be protected due to CBT penalties and drop ten spots. The Mets will select 19th overall. The last time they had the 19th overall pick they selected Pete Crow-Armstrong, who they would later trade to the Cubs for Javier Baez and Trevor Williams.
Why did they drop ten spots?
Per the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams that exceeded the competitive balance tax payroll threshold of $273 million for the 2023 season will have their first draft selection drop ten spots, provided their first selection is not in the top six.
If their first-round pick is in the top six, then the team’s next draft pick, ostensibly in the second round, descends by ten spots.
The Mets, Yankees, and Padres were the three teams that exceeded that threshold in 2023. The Padres will have the 24th pick, and the Yankees will follow with the 25th.
Following Cleveland, the lottery order two through six is Cincinnati, Colorado, Oakland, Chicago (White Sox), and Kansas City.
The 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft will occur during the All-Star week in Arlington, Texas. A specific date for the draft has not yet been announced.
