MLB Opening Day Rosters 2012 Draft vs FA

I was curious what the breakdown would be on the Major League rosters between the number of players that were drafted and those who were originally picked up as amateur free agents. One original intent was to see the number of international players on the teams but some other players like Heath Bell were pulled in because they weren't drafted. Plus the fact a player is from a foreign country didn't automatically mean they had been a free agent because Albert Pujols and Jose Bautista were originally from the Dominican Republic but played college ball in the states and they were drafted. I was surprised to see the numbers showed the teams are much more draft oriented than I thought they would be.

Starting with the AL East the Baltimore Orioles have 18 players that had been drafted on their roster and seven that were originally amateur free agents. The breakdown of the pitchers is eight drafted players and four amateur free agents. For the sake of this presentation that is 18/7 total and 8/4 pitchers. The Boston Red Sox are 20/5 total and 9/4 pitchers. The New York Yankees are 16/9 total and 6/6 pitchers. The Tampa Bay Rays are 20/5 total and 10/2 pitchers. The Toronto Blue Jays are 19/6 total and 7/5 pitchers. 

In the AL Central the Chicago White Sox are 20/5 total and 12/0 pitchers. The Cleveland Indians are 17/8 total and 8/4 pitchers. The Detroit Tigers are 19/6 total and 8/3 pitchers. The Kansas City Royals are 16/9 total and 7/5 pitchers. The Minnesota Twins are 21/4 total and 10/2 pitchers.

In the AL West the Oakland Athletics are 20/5 total and 8/4 pitchers. The Seattle Mariners are 15/10 total and 7/5 pitchers. The Los Angeles Angels are 16/9 total and 8/3 pitchers. The Texas Rangers are 15/10 total and 7/5 pitchers.

In the NL East the Atlanta Braves 17/8 total and 7/5 pitchers. The Miami Marlins are 15/10 total and 7/5 pitchers. The New York Mets are 18/7 total and 7/5 pitchers. The Philadelphia Phillies are 20/5 total and 11/1 pitchers. The Washington Nationals are 21/4 total and 11/1 pitchers.

In the NL Central the Chicago Cubs are 19/6 total and 9/3 pitchers. The Cincinnati Reds are 18/7 total and 8/4 pitchers. The Houston Astros are 18/7 total and 9/4 pitchers. The Milwaukee Brewers are 18/7 total and 10/2 pitchers. The Pittsburgh Pirates are 21/4 total and 10/1 pitchers. The St Louis Cardinals are 23/2 total and 11/1 pitchers.

In the NL West the Arizona Diamondbacks are 22/3 total and 12/0 pitchers. The Colorado Rockies are 16/9 total and 7/4 pitchers. The Los Angeles Dodgers are 22/3 total and 11/1 pitchers. The San Diego Padres are 21/4 total and 9/3 pitchers. The San Francisco Giants are 19/6 total and 10/2 pitchers.

I found it interesting how teams chose to come out the gates with their rosters varying from 11 to 13 pitchers. The totals are just a snapshot to start the season and will fluctuate as players get injured and under perform as players get shuttled up and down to the minors. Yet it does show the importance of the June draft and if they decide to absorb the international players to be included in the draft it won't have much impact on the big picture.