Here’s a depressing anecdote from Ken Rosenthal’s latest (via MLB Trade Rumors):
For sheer intrigue, it’s a shame that high-school infielder Mike Moustakas went to the Royals with the No. 2 pick of the first-year player draft.
If Moustakas had been available at No. 5, the Orioles would have faced a trying decision. Their scouts weren’t particularly high on Moustakas, but their owner, Peter Angelos surely would have wanted him to receive strong consideration.
Angelos, the son of Greek immigrants, helped develop the first baseball team to represent Greece in the Olympics in 2004. Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis, the team’s first-round pick in ‘03, was a member of that team. Moustakas also is of Greek descent.
If the Orioles had passed on Moustakas, the Nationals would have taken him at No. 6. Angelos might have fired his entire front office if Moutsakas had become a star for the Orioles’ geographic rivals, but the Royals prevented the possibility from even occurring.
Fantastic. The mere possibility that our drafting strategy centers around what national team a prospect played for is enough to make me cry. Any chance we could get a new owner, like, soon?
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