What I don't understand is how the Astros can be so sure that 29 other teams were not going to draft Nix and Marshall just so the Astros could take them in later rounds. I know there's signability issues but do you really think the Yankees or Dodgers give a crap about that if they really want a guy, if he's head-and-shoulders better than everyone else on the board? If nothing else, they can hold his rights for awhile and make him dream about the money, particularly if he's "always wanted to be a Yankee", etc. IOW, are there players out there you'd break the rules to sign? Heck, yeah.

Plus, I'd try to talk some players into quid pro quo deals. Sign with my team for slot and we'll make it up to you in your next contract (wink, wink). Develop a history with agents of being good on your word and you might get some players for cheap on the initial deal then give him an extra million later on his next deal. Don't see how the league could stop that.

The Correa-McCullers-Ruiz gambit worked because nobody else had probably considered it. After Luhnow did it, though, everybody else could figure it out so they wouldn't just sit there and let the Astros keep doing it. They'd develop counter strategies. Let's see if the Rangers do this in June or if they play it straight and take the best player.