Fangraphs has the first 2 parts of a series discussing the changes proposed in minor league baseball.
There is a 3rd part coming addressing the power and control consolidation that MLB wants. It does seem the motivation here is half cost savings and half trying to spend more resources on the better prospects. I guess what it comes down to for me is that they have enough money to continue this, so the reasons for changing may not fly. And if you get one major leaguer every 5 years out of a 30th-40th round pick, it is probably worth it.
Maybe they just cut 12 teams to 150 total so every team has only one short season team (and can do whatever it wants in complex leagues). Now if they move the draft back, maybe the short season leagues become something different. How about a 80-100 game season starting in May for advanced players that would be in extended spring? New draftees could join in July for the last month or 6 weeks.
MLB would prefer to have all these 30th round picks develop elsewhere (and probably not develop for the most part except for the occasional Indy league signing) as long as it is fair for all teams. I just worry that decisions like that are pretty short-sighted and harm the game in the long run.
