Baseball had claimed that forbidding the trade of draft picks protects the smaller markets from the larger. Baseball was once also concerned about the possible effect of a franchise trading its picks into the future.

Neverthelss the baseball draft for decades has favored larger markets. For years teams like the Pirates, Expos, A's would pick early, but would have to pass on the best talent in the draft because they had no chance of signing them. By extending their rights over draft picks to 1 year helped a little, but still the best talent would inevitably slide down to the bigger money teams. Allowing the early pickers to trade the draft pick wouldn't have helped much as they certainly wouldn't have received much value for the number 1 pick as they were bargaining from a weakened position. Another thing that helps was the setting of a cap for spending on all of the draft picks. Without this the Astros likely would have passed on Mark Appel this year.

Of the major sports the baseball draft is the biggest crap shoot out there. Typically fewer than half the first round picks have consequential major league careers. It's harder to predict how the talents of a high school or college player's skills translate in the majors.

Apparently baseball draft overhaul is in the works. One thing that may be addressed is extending the draft beyond the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Presently players outside this territory are not eligible for the draft, but are free agents, who can be signed by anyone.