Years ago, Major League Baseball introduced Competitive Balance rounds to the draft order as a way to support the 10 lowest-revenue and smallest-market teams. These rounds aim to give these teams an additional advantage in the draft. Competitive Balance Round A takes place right after the first round, while Round B follows immediately after the second.
These extra picks not only provide teams with valuable selections near the top of the draft but also impact their overall draft bonus pool. This extra flexibility can allow teams to go overslot with other picks, helping them sign players who might otherwise opt for college.
On Thursday evening, the 2025 Competitive Balance Round picks were announced, with the Reds securing the 6th pick in Round A, as reported by Joe Trezza of MLB.com.
The Reds have utilized these picks effectively in recent years. In 2023, they used their Round A pick on pitcher Ty Floyd from LSU, who is expected to make strides in 2025 after dealing with injuries. In 2024, they selected LSU pitcher Luke Holman in Round B, and in 2022, their Round A pick was used on Sal Stewart, now regarded as one of baseball’s Top 100 prospects.
Notably, these are the only MLB draft picks that can be traded. The Reds famously leveraged this rule, along with Shed Long, to acquire Sonny Gray from the Yankees. Round A picks, in particular, hold significant trade value. As the Winter Meetings approach, the Reds have added a valuable asset that could serve as a strong bargaining chip.
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