The Reds want parity in baseball. But they don't want parity that would punish them.

        Baseball owners voted to seek the union's approval for a proposal under which teams with the eight worst records during the previous three seasons would choose one player left unprotected by the teams with the eight best winning percentages.

DRAFT IMPACT

Teams that would have lost and added players if the draft had been in place after last season:   LOST A PLAYER   • Atlanta (.626)   • NY Yankees (.616)   • NY Mets (.573)   • Cleveland (.568)   • San Francisco (.559)   • Houston (.558)   • Boston (.558)   • Cincinnati (.530)   DRAFTED A PLAYER   • Florida (.406)   • Montreal (.412)   • Tampa Bay (.414)   • Minnesota (.417)   • Detroit (.439)   • Kansas City (.440)   • Pittsburgh (.445)   • Philadelphia (.447)

        If the system had been in place after last season, the Reds would have been one of the teams that lost a player.

        “The Reds organization is supportive of improving parity in baseball,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. “We're hoping it's not something that penalizes teams for managing themselves well.”

        After last season, Atlanta (.626), the New York Yankees (.616), the New York Mets (.573), Cleveland (.568), San Francisco (.559), Houston (.558), Boston (.558) and the Reds (.530) would have lost players.

        “We have the 24th payroll out of 30 teams,” Bowden said. “That doesn't make any sense. They'll continue to work on the details. Baseball is trying to do the right thing.”

        Florida (.406), Montreal (.412), Tampa Bay (.414), Minnesota (.417), Detroit (.439), Kansas City (.440), Pittsburgh (.445) and Philadelphia (.447) would have picked up players.

        Another element of the owners' plan is to have a worldwide draft, rather than one for players in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico only. Players would have to sign by July 15, and teams could trade picks. That would help the Reds, who can't compete with big-money teams such as the Yankees when bidding for top Latin stars.

        Any parity plan would have to be approved by the players. Donald Fehr, head of the players union, said the players would consider the proposals during negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA expires Oct.31.

Reds sign Ochoa, brace for arbitration Bowden: Don't punish winners in name of parity Reds caravan hits the road today

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