Unlike most sports, in Major League Baseball there can be a huge difference in the number of early draft picks owned by the varying franchises. This year the Tampa Bay Rays have nine of the first 60 picks in the 2011 MLB Draft, while the Tigers are completely bereft of early choices, left only to twiddle their thumbs on Day 1 of the Rule 4 draft. Below, a quick rundown of every team with at least two draft picks among the first 60 picks, covering the 33-pick first round and the 27-pick compensation round (which includes so-called "sandwich picks" used to compensate teams that lost Type A and Type B free agents after last season).
Tampa Bay Rays (10): 24, 31, 32, 38, 41, 42, 52, 56, 59, 60
The Rays' unprecedented haul of first- and compensation-round picks is the result of losing Carl Crawford and the great majority of their relief-pitching corps to free agency last winter.
San Diego Padres (5): 10, 25, 48, 54, 58
Despite nearly winning the National League West last season, the Padres have the 10th pick in the draft because they didn't sign their first-round pick a year ago. They've also got compensation choices for the losses of Type B free agents Jon Garland, Yorvit Torrealba and Kevin Correia.
Toronto Blue Jays (5): 21, 35, 46, 53, 57
Aside from their "normal" first-round pick, the Jays have compensation picks for losing Type A free agent Scott Downs, and Type B's John Buck, Kevin Gregg and Miguel Olivo.
Boston Red Sox (4): 19, 26, 36, 40
Yes, the rich get richer as the Red Sox a) have the 19th and 36th picks because Type A free agent Victor Martinez signed with the Tigers, and the 26th and 40th picks because Adrian Beltre signed with the Rangers.
Arizona Diamandbacks (3): 3, 7, 43
They haven't gotten the publicity the Rays have, but having two of the first seven picks is quite a blessing. The No. 3 pick is the result of the Diamondbacks' 97 losses last season, and the No. 7 pick is compensation for not signing their first-round choice last summer. And finally, they picked up the No. 43 pick when free agent Adam LaRoche signed with the Nationals.
Washington Nationals (3): 6, 23, 34
The Nats choose sixth because they were lousy last year, and they pick 23rd and 34th because they let Adam Dunn get away ... which is, to this point in the season anyway, looking like an exceptionally wise decision.
Minnesota Twins (3): 30, 50, 55
Those latter two picks are the result of losing Type B free agents Orlando Hudson and Jesse Crain.
Milwaukee Brewers (2): 12, 15
That second pick is compensation for not signing their first-round choice in 2010.
New York Mets (2): 13, 44
The 44th choice is compensation for losing reliever Pedro Feliciano -- who has of course spend most of this season on the Disabled List, to Brian Cashman's dismay -- to the Yankees.
Colorado Rockies (2): 20, 45
The Rockies picked up the No. 45 pick with the departure of free agent Octavio Dotel, now struggling as a Blue Jays reliever.
Texas Rangers (2): 33, 37
The Rangers gave up their "natural" first-round pick (No. 26) when they signed Adrian Beltre, but gained the No. 33 and No. 37 picks when Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies.
San Francisco Giants (2): 29, 49
The 29th pick is natural, the 49 compensation for losing Type B free agent Juan Uribe.
Here are the 15 franchises with only one choice among the first 60: Pirates (No. 1), Mariners (2), Orioles (4), Royals (5), Indians (8), Cubs (9), Astros (11), Marlins (14), Dodgers (16), Angels (17), Athletics (18), Cardinals (21), Reds (27), Braves (28), Phillies (39), White Sox (47), Yankees (51).
And again, Tigers are both without draft choices among the first 60, because they signed Type A free agent Victor Martinez and didn't lose any Type A or Type B's.
Original version of this story listed Yankees as having no first- or compensation-round picks.


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