The Competitive Balance Rounds are a pair of bonus rounds within the MLB draft, designed to give an extra pick to the games smaller-market teams. Teams that fall within either the bottom 10 in revenues and market size are eligible, and since 2017, the league determined the eligible teams based on a formula involving market score, revenues, and winning percentage. The first of the two Competitive Balance Rounds (CBR-A) comes right before the start of the second round, and CBR-B comes right after the second round. For the 2025 draft, a total of 15 teams will gain an extra pick, and their order within their respective round is determined by their win totals in the 2024 season. With that explanation out of the way, lets get to the fun stuff these picks can be traded. Specifically, a CBR selection can traded exactly once, and to any team in the league. Since these are the only MLB draft picks that are eligible to be dealt, it has become increasingly common to see teams move these extra selections as part of larger trade packages for established talent. Three CBR picks in the 2024 draft changed hands due to trades, most prominently the Orioles inclusion of the 34th overall selection as part of the trade package sent to the Brewers for . This offseason has already seen three CBR picks in the 2025 draft dealt, and this post will explore the po sibility that some other teams with CBR selections might move these picks to fill a more immediate need. To cover the broad reason why any of these teams might not make a trade, its simply that draft picks are a very valuable a set unto themselves. Controllable young talent is particularly important for lower-revenue clubs that usually dont splurge on expensive free agents or trade targets, which is part of the reasons why the Competitive Balance Rounds exist in the first place. Clubs are naturally pretty reluctant to move these CBR picks unle s the right opportunity presents itself on the trade market. (First, some notes on the draft order. The first 75 places in the 2025 draft have largely been established, since the remaining free agents who rejected qualifying offers all played for teams who were either luxury-tax payors in 2024, or arent revenue-sharing recipients. That means that if signs elsewhere, the Red Sox will get their compensation pick after CBR-B. If and sign elsewhere, the Mets and Astros compensation picks will fall after the fourth round. Also, because the Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers all exceeded the second luxury-tax tier in 2024, their first-round picks were dropped by 10 spots in the draft order. This Sindarius Thornwell Jersey means that these three big spenders are all technically selecting within CBR-A, but obviously these arent official CBR picks. The only potential change would be if a team that signs Alonso, Bregman or Pivetta surrenders its second-round pick to do so.) Onto the selections. Brewers (33rd overall, CBR-A) : Milwaukee is actually making consecutive picks in the draft, as they received a compensatory pick when rejected the teams qualifying offer and signed with the Giants. Owning the 32nd overall pick might make the Brew Crew slightly more opening to trading the 33rd overall pick, perhaps to add pitching or to the infield in the wake of Adames departure. The Brewers could considering adding their CBR pick as a sweetener to try and move contract, yet its le s likely that the team moves a valuable draft selection just as part of a salary dump. Tigers (34th overall, CBR-A) : The Tigers are considered to be one of the top suitors remaining for Alex Bregman, and signing a qualified free agent would cost the Tigers their third-highest pick in the 2025 draft. Losing the 63rd overall pick means the Tigers almost surely wouldnt also deal their CBR pick. If Bregman signed elsewhere, its more plausible that Detroit could consider trading its CBR pick for a big right-handed bat, but still probably on the unlikely side. Mariners (35th overall, CBR-A) : It was almost exactly a year ago that the Ms their CBR-B pick in the 2024 draft to the White Sox as part of the deal. Santos injury-plagued first season in Seattle could make the Mariners more hesitant to an even higher CBR selection, yet this tradable pick might an a set the Ms can use within an overall for the team. The Mariners are working with limited payroll space and most every team in baseball would prefer win-now help over prospects, seemingly leaving the Ms dealing with a lot of offers for their starting pitchers. With Seattle so reluctant to deal from its excellent rotation, offering up the 35th overall pick in trade talks might help get things moving. Twins (36th overall, CBR-A) : Speaking of front offices without much financial flexibility, Minnesota has had a very quiet offseason, with most of the headlines focused on a potential sale of the franchise rather than any significant roster moves. With around only $5MM or so in payroll space, the Twins might have to make some trades just to free up more money for more trade po sibilities. Moving the CBR-A pick could be added to the Twins list of po sibilities, but the team has enough potential trade candidates on the active roster that moving a big league-ready player is probably their preference over dealing away a draft pick. Rays (37th overall, CBR-A) : It might not come as much surprise that Tampa is the team that has acquired the most CBR picks over the last seven seasons. As youll see shortly, the Rays added to that total with the 42nd overall pick of the 2025 draft. Like with the Brewers and the Adames compensatory selection, having an extra pick in a sense might make the Rays more open to dealing this pick here, but that hasnt been Tampa Bays style. Reds (now Dodgers, 41st overall, CBR-A) : This pick was already moved, as Cincinnati along with outfield prospect to Los Angeles in exchange for . Athletics (now Rays, 42nd overall, CBR-A) : Another swapped pick, as the As the 42nd overall pick to Tampa Bay as part of the trade. This move in particular highlights the speculative nature of this post, since going into the offseason, the Athletics seemingly wouldnt have been on the radar as a team likely to trade its CBR pick. Marlins (43th overall, CBR-A) : Theres basically zero chance the Fish move a draft pick in the midst of their extensive rebuild. Guardians (70th overall, CBR-B) : The reigning AL Central champs have generally gone chalk with their CBR selections, not acquiring or trading any picks until this year. Adding an experienced outfielder or middle infielder for the 70th pick might work on paper, as the Guards are another team with two CBR selections and not much spending capacity to addre s its roster needs. Orioles (71st overall, CBR-B) : The idea for this post came about after writing yesterday about how the Os might be well-suited to trade this pick. Diamondbacks (now Guardians, 72nd overall, CBR-B) : Arizona the 72nd pick and to Cleveland to bring to the desert. Royals (73rd overall, CBR-B) : Kansas City its CBR-A selection just hours before the 2024 draft began, moving the 39th overall pick and third base prospect to the Nationals for . While Harvey battled injuries and wasnt much of a help in the Royals run to the ALDS, the fact that the team made such an aggre sive midseason deal in pursuit of a playoff spot might hint that the front office is willing to make another bold swap involving this pick. Outfield help remains the Royals biggest need at this point in the winter. Cardinals (74th overall, CBR-B) : Outgoing president of baseball operations John Mozeliak wanting to leave a clean slate for new PBO Chaim Bloom. Between that and the Cardinals stated goal of refocusing on player development, it seems unlikely St. Louis would look to move its CBR pick. Pirates (75th overall, CBR-B) : The Bucs have had a relatively quiet offseason, with the teams typical lack of big spending. In theory, trading a CBR pick might be a helpful way for the Pirates to add talent without breaking the budget, though Ben Cherington has yet to explore this tactic during his time as Pittsburghs general manager. Rockies (76th overall, CBR-B) : While the Rockies arent technically in an official rebuild, theyre not exactly building up after losing 204 games over the last two seasons. Using this pick to add another young player to the farm system seems far more likely than the Rox trading the pick away. Lonzo Ball Jersey