Via Buster’s blog (Insider only), we get a glimpse into why the MLB soft “slotting” system is a complete joke:

Lincecum was draft eligible as a sophomore at the University of Washington, and did not have a great season. The Indians still liked him and took him late in the draft.

The Indians were told it would take $1 million to get The Freak to sign. That’s a lot of money for a player taken the 42nd round. The Tribe made him a $700,000 offer, much to the chagrin of Frank Coonelly, who was in charge of the draft’s unofficial slotting system for MLB. Coonelly is now president of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Indians had already gone over slot specifications with a couple of other players and Coonelly was not happy. Still, they made the offer.

That an official could frown upon a team’s desire to make an offer and influence their decision, while other teams pay that official no heed, shows how silly the slotting system really is. The Indians still bid on Lincecum but the Big Brother-aspect of this simply highlights the ridiculousness of the system.

Either have a slotting system or not. This “suggested” slotting method where the FOB’s (Friends of Bud) are the only ones to adhere to the “recommendations” while other teams do as they wish needs to be fixed.