I don't ask much of the hometown nine. (I know, I've started many articles just like that this season. Go with it). One thing I do expect? When you draft a guy, act like you were super-excited he fell to you and get fans pumped up about his future, don't let him sign with an independent league team.
That's all.
It's not much, is it?
As I've mentioned a couple of times this week, I've been moving for about the past 10 days, so I haven't always been able to see news as it's breaking. I had just a little time yesterday morning to look through my RSS feed before I trucked back north for another load of stuff and was dumbstruck with the report via MLB Trade Rumors that Springer may sign with the independent Long Island Ducks.
This is completely a negotiating strategy, but it should tell you something that Springer wants to sign with an independent league team and forego his senior year at UConn. Let me repeat that...Springer would rather sign with an independent league team right now than play his senior season in college. Does that tell you how much he wants to go pro? Actually, I have no idea why Springer would do this. His best shot at being drafted higher and getting more money is by going back to college. By signing with an independent league team, he'd most likely fall further in the first round next season.
What the heck, Astros? What the heck, Bobby Heck? Is it the money? Are you having problems getting a deal done because of Jim Crane's tenuous position as owner? Are we really going to have to wait until the deadline before we get a deal?
What this does is show us that Springer's deal isn't basically done and just waiting for the commish to sign off on it. For some reason, Houston's playing hard ball with Springer's representatives. It's not the hamstring, but I wonder if it shows why Houston likes signing guys who they have more info on their demands first. Houston didn't think Springer would fall to them, so they may not have figured out what it'd take to sign him as much as guys like Adrian Houser.
Regardless, the Astros need to sign Springer. With Altuve and Lyles sitting in the majors, Springer would almost assuredly take over as the No. 1 prospect in the organization. Just get him signed already.
1 recs | 20 comments
I honestly think this is a lot more common then we realize. It wouldn’t surprise me if most of the first round draft picks who take a long time to sign visit with Indy League teams just to get an idea of options and Springers high profile is bringing this to forefront. The only reason this got out was a because a social network designed for fan/athlete interaction tweeted it. Normally, something like this doesn’t get out.
I have no doubt that this is lingering some because of the ownership situation. The Dodger situation is screwing us so bad. Drayton won’t fork out more money (understandably though, he won’t see a return) and Crane can’t yet. Of course, Selig doesn’t care because he thinks everyone should sign for slot. So, he’s not going to make any exceptions.
Another factor is his agent. His agent has said he wants to take it to the deadline and is probably looking for a big payday. This is quite possibly the last draft with overslot deals and given the few 1st rounders that have signed, it seems every agent is doing the same. Simply holding out for the most possible money because they may not be able to do that again.
Subber10 - July 26, 2011
If Boras was Springer's agent, I would be concerned....
because the independent league threats are very real. Boras knows how to convert a independent league signing into higher pay for first round picks. Max Scherzer and Luke Hochevar are good examples, both of whom signed with the Fort Worth Cats. Hochevar was a low first round pick (40th overall) of the Dodgers, and never reached contract terms with LA. He returned to the draft in the next year and was the No. 1 pick, with the Royals paying what was considered to be an enormous amount at the time to sign him. Both of those independent league signings occurred before the current Aug. 15 signing deadline was put in place. Scherzer signed with the D-Backs in May of the following year after he was drafted. The independent league games probably increased Scherzer’s bonus because there were previous questions about an arm injury.
clack - July 26, 2011
That was also aided by slitting recommendations. An overslot deal this year could be worth more than a top 5 pick next year since we don’t know what the slots could be. It would be a big risk for him.
Subber10 - July 26, 2011 via mobile
Considering Trevor Bauer just signed yesterday for 7 million
And thats WAAAY overslot, Im at a loss why we cant get this done.
Apparently, Bobby Heck said he feels it will come down to the deadline. SO, they are playing hardball with Springer. Why??? Drayton should just spend the money and Crane can pay him back.
I agree that Selig is really screwing us over right now, and if we miss out on Springer because of it, this draft puts us back …. once again.
God, its hard to like this team…
YohannDookeyblue - July 26, 2011
He signed a major league deal which probably plays a role in it getting approved.
Guydude - July 26, 2011
It’s easy for us to sit here an say drayton should do this or that, but think o it as your own money, would you do it? If course not, it’s not a smart investment for drayton, he gets nothing of value from it.
It gets really annoying when fans put it all the negotiation blame on the organizations, there are two sides and we have no idea how difficult springer or his agent is being.
Subber10 - July 26, 2011 via mobile
how many first round picks have actually signed?
BRASO - July 26, 2011
9 i believe
Timothy De Block - July 26, 2011
Im sure he'll sign but
A) this isn’t the best way to kick off a relationship on either side, and, B) Springer is missing out on really valuable time right now.
This is also holding us back from signing our other draftees I’m sure. They’re probably holding back extra cash that they might have to throw at Springer at the deadline that they could be using to sign Armstrong Stubblefield and Flamion. Anybody here remember Adam Plutko??? Ya, he could be in our system right now. I don’t want to say that about one of these guys we have now, this time next year.
Its Gonna Happen - July 26, 2011 via mobile
Once again sometimes it’s the player. Plutko walked away from a little over one million. That’s on him not the Astros. That much for a sixth or eighth round pick or whatever he was, is extremely over slot.
Subber10 - July 26, 2011 via mobile
How do yo know we offered over a million for Plutko?
I did hear it was supplemental money, but figured it was half that..
YohannDookeyblue - July 26, 2011
There was an article from one of the beat writers saying that they ha offered Plutko one million or slightly over one million and that jones had somewhere around the same
Subber10 - July 26, 2011 via mobile
I was just saying
I don’t want to be on the outside looking in again with these prospects. I’m sure the Astros are trying (or did try) to sign Springer Armstrong Stubblefield and Flamion, but as we saw with Plutko, there is a difference between trying to sign and signing.
Side note: I’m more excited about Stubblefield than Armstrong. I think Armstrong is going to be very Lindstromish, meaning his back issues will force him on the DL constantly and effect his pitching performances. I don’t dislike Armstong but I’m more hesitant towards giving him big money.
Its Gonna Happen - July 26, 2011 via mobile
Armstrong
Started but was pulled after 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K. I hope he isn’t hurt.
Guydude - July 26, 2011
Should read “Started today…”
Guydude - July 26, 2011
“He felt some tightness in his elbow, didn’t want to risk it. Nothing serious though.” Per YDbroadcast Twitter.
Guydude - July 26, 2011
Ya
I bet he signs immediately now and waits to claim injury until after his first outing in pro-ball.
Its Gonna Happen - July 26, 2011 via mobile
What a freaking joke
Has there ever been a worse organization, top to bottom at every level? What did we do to deserve this turd?
Michael Rose - July 26, 2011
What incentive does Springer have to sign quickly? The dollar figure won’t go down as they get closer to the deadline. Not many players in the top 10 have signed, and usually the guys in the mid-first round wait for the top contracts to sign first, because they’re more likely to be overslot and can raise the overall level of contracts that sign later. Even if the difference only ends up being $40,000 or so (relatively small change in baseball contract terms), in real terms, that’s a very nice car, or enough to go back to school and finish his degree if baseball didn’t work out.
You could say that his incentive is to get into the system and get development time, but look at it this way. He’s had a long college baseball season and is probably enjoying the rest. He’s not some 35th rounder who has to get out there soon and make a good impression or be out of baseball in the next two years…he’ll get the benefit of the doubt by virtue of being a first-rounder. And the Astros lower levels don’t generally try to make adjustments with a player right away…they usually give the guy about a month to do his thing his way and show them what got him drafted. And by that time, the season will be almost over. His incentive to get on the field is not that high.
If the Astros were to start increasing their bonus offers at this point, they’d only be bidding against themselves because Springer would probably still just wait until the deadline and see if Houston would up the offer again.
AstroAndy - July 26, 2011
+1
I always love the voice of reason from AstroAndy
Subber10 - July 27, 2011
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