I appreciate you have an understanding of the questionable hiring practices of MLB, also. It means you also understand the advantages that MLB is using in those regions. As of the start of the season, there were 259 players on Opening Day rosters were born outside of the U.S., marking a new high for the league since it began tracking this data in 1995. Those athletes make up 29.8 percent of the league’s total 868 players. (The previous record for highest number of foreign-born players was 246 in 2007, while the record for highest percentage of foreign-born players was 29.2 percent in 2005.)
The Texas Rangers boast the most players from countries outside the U.S., with 14 players from six different countries and territories. The San Diego Padres, the Seattle Mariners, the Chicago White Sox, the Cleveland Indians, the Los Angeles Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies all have more than 10 players from other countries. In total, 19 countries and territories are represented in the MLB, including the Dominican Republic (93 players), Venezuela (77) and Cuba (23).
And in the land of $30K contracts for 16 year olds that look big by their standards, poverty level by ours, the clubs are really cheating the players. And all those $30K players are talking up spaces from the college and amateur players in the US based upon money and nothing else, including talent.
To be honest, MLB is probably the worst of the sports using questionable tactics to present their sport to a public with an attitude of acceptance of sub standard performances. And they’ve perfected the art as they have been doing it for over 60 years.
rwood
Good article on MiLB salaries on Marketplace.org.