MLB's foolish system has wrecked Yankees' draft chances after losing Juan Soto

There's a very limited silver lining for losing a talented player to free agency, but MLB's poorest teams can at least count on a compensation draft pick to ease the pain.

Unless they attempt to sign more talented players to replace the guy who departed. Then, they're totally screwed!

The Baltimore Orioles swapped relief pitcher Bryan Baker to the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon, earning them the 37th pick in Sunday's draft. That's their fourth pick in the top 37, after they were gifted compensation picks for losing Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander (30 and 301).

Because they kept their payroll tidy, they weren't penalized at all for exceeding any sort of thresholds. Because they kept their noses out of free agency, they didn't lose additional draft compensation for signing a powerful name attached to the qualifying offer.

Meanwhile, the Yankees who lost not just a free agent, but a generational, $800 million talent in Juan Soto, received a measly fourth-round pick for their efforts (because of their payroll penalties, which also knocked their top selection out of the first round to pick No. 39). They then lost that Soto pick for signing Max Fried! So much for trying!

Yankees pick once in top 100 of MLB Draft because MLB has no idea how to handle Juan Soto's departure

So, again, the lesson, as always, is to cry poor. The Orioles could've reinforced their remarkable young core and extended their championship window. Instead, they signed absolutely nobody, didn't extend their stars, and started preparing for another future somewhere down the line.

"Look at all these ... draft picks and prospects!" is the easiest possible carrot for a front office that wants more time on the clock to dangle. "You can't fire me! I've still got all these selections to make and not pay!"

Baltimore was rewarded for their cheapness with two consecutive reload picks at the tail end of the first round. The Yankees, who tried valiantly to lure Soto on the highest-cost deal in MLB history, failed and saw their meager reward stripped away for the high crimes of "trying to spend more/replace Soto".

Just draft a fast-rising, big league-ready reliever in the fourth round and be done with it.