New CBA details are coming out, and they look very ugly, as baseball has moved very, very close to hard slotting in the amateur draft.  Every team will get a set amount they can spend on amateur players in a given year, with worse teams allowed to spend more money.

Here’s the important stuff about how teams are going to be punished for going over their specific slot:

… If teams exceed the bonus limit set my Major League Baseball by more than 5%, they get hit with a 75% tax. If they exceed it by between 5 and 10%, they get a 75% tax and they lose a first round pick the next year.  If you’re 10-15% over, it’s a 100% tax and the loss of a first and second round pick. Fifteen percent or higher a  is 100% tax and the loss of two first-round picks.

Money spent on international picks will be applied to the overall money pool too.

What does this mean?  With less money available in the draft, more talented players will go to college.  Remember, that college baseball teams don’t give out full scholarships.  So if an athlete wants a full ride to college, he’s going to have to do it in another sport.

What’s the good news here?