i also think there should be an exception for guys traded within the last year - the brewers should not get compensation for losing sabathia IMO. I disagree. That allows small market teams the opportunity to contend now, while rebuilding for the future as well. It's a fairly large incentive for those teams to make the "go for it" trades that can excite the team and keep fan interest high in what is otherwise a non-entity. It needs to be adjusted, but taking away such an important thing for teams like Oakland, Milwaukee, Minnesota etc, that can't justify spending $100m on individual players, or trading away prospects for superstars, would be a big mistake. Fair enough. Remove the service time clause, and I think I like my plan better than the current plan. With my plan, you can also remove the arbitration clause. Just award the team losing one of their best players, period. If it's a given that these smaller market teams NEED compensation for players they are going to lose and can't afford to offer arbitration to, then make it mandatory that teams that sign them lose the picks to the teams losing the player. Take the gamble out of it altogether.