Draft Preview

The order of selection for the 2002 draft includes 11 compensation picks between the first and second rounds: nine for free agents lost after the 2001 season and two for first-round draft picks in 2001 who were not signed.

Teams receive compensation in the form of draft picks based on the free agent they lose, according to the free-agent rating system established by Elias Sports Bureau: a Type A free agent ranked among the top 30 percent of major leaguers at his position, a Type B free agent ranked among the top half (but not the top 30 percent) of major leaguers at his position, and a Type C free agent ranked among the bottom half of major leaguers at his position.

A team that loses a Type A free agent gets the first-round pick of the team that signs the free agent and a supplemental pick after the first round. A team that loses a Type B free agent receives only the signing team's top pick.

In both cases, a team selecting in the first half of the draft rotation cannot lose its first-round pick. Such a team would instead lose its second-round pick.

Also, teams that sign multiple Type A or B free agents continue to lose picks based on the number of players they sign. The pecking order for compensation is based on where the free agents ranked in the Elias ratings.

The Rangers provide an excellent example of the process this year, having signed four Type A or B free agents in the offseason. Because they are at No. 10 in the draft rotation, the Rangers will not lose their first-round pick.

Instead, they will give their second-round pick to the Dodgers, who lost righthander Chan Ho Park. The Dodgers get the pick because Park is the highest-rated free agent Texas signed. The Rangers will lose their third-round pick to the Indians (for Juan Gonzalez), their fourth-round pick to the Cubs (for Todd Van Poppel) and their fifth-round pick to the Rockies (for Jay Powell).

In other words, Texas will pick 10th overall and not again until pick No. 172.

Only once in draft history has a team lost four premium picks. That occurred in 1981, when the Angels selected shortstop Dick Schofield in the first round and outfielder Devon White with their next pick--in the sixth round.

The Athletics will be the biggest beneficiaries of draft-pick compensation this year. They'll have seven of the first 39 picks--two each for Johnny Damon (Red Sox), Jason Giambi (Yankees) and Jason Isringhausen (Cardinals), in addition to their own first-round pick.

A team that loses a Type C free agent receives a supplemental pick between the second and third rounds. Only one such player, outfielder Marty Cordova, was signed this offseason, giving the Indians the 72nd overall pick.

The only other compensation picks come for teams that do not sign first-round picks. Last year, the Reds did not sign lefthander Jeremy Sowers and the Indians did not sign righthander Alan Horne, so they will have extra picks this year.

Following is the order of selection (with adjustments) for the first five rounds and supplemental rounds.