Comments on: Mark Appel Updates: Monday

By: Ian Rothermund

Ian Rothermund — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 23:17:00 +0000

I would love to see him not sign this year, then fall to the Pirates again in 2013 and have 0 negotiating leverage. Then, we go from a 3 million dollar bonus this year to a 650k bonus next year.

By: Ian Rothermund

Ian Rothermund — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:23:00 +0000

What an annoying jerk this guy seems like. This is not the kind of stuff that will win you over with Pittsburghers.

By: john.alcorn

john.alcorn — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:11:00 +0000

Thanks Kevin, in that case we indeed have very little to lose.

By: Kevin_Creagh

Kevin_Creagh — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:12:00 +0000

The rules have changed. The pick next year is protected, as well. There’s a lot of changes to keep track of and a lot of quirks.

By: john.alcorn

john.alcorn — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:58:00 +0000

Unless the rules have changed the Pirates will lose leverage with a comp pick next year because it won’t be guaranteed, it’ll be use it or lose it. I really doubt that they can draft a top 3 SP in the draft pool in that scenario at #9. They will have to opt for a guy they know they can sign.

By: Fred Langford

Fred Langford — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 03:02:00 +0000

Best case scenario Appel goes back to college and is even better and becomes a top 3 pick and gets a few extra million. …but he risks getting hurt. Is 1.5-2 mil really worth losing a year in an mlb system and the chance you screw up your arm? To Boras the risk is worth it…but kids need to realize…Boras is probably already worth hundreds of millions. He can wait a year to look good and boost his rep as a ruthless negotiator.

By: Sean Fogle

Sean Fogle — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:34:00 +0000

That’s what i was thinking. A ploy from Boras. Boras already costed this kid millions.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:09:00 +0000

If Appel thinks for himself, he will sign. It is a no-brainer. However if he is controlled by Scott Boras – as most of Boras’ clients are – then he likely will not sign. The reason is that Boras’ goal is to maximize Scott Boras’ long-term profit – not to make the best decision for any one client. By convincing Appel to walk away from the Pirates’ offer, it may help him build credibility for future negotiations. Also it will spare him the humiliation of having his client sign for $3.5M after he could have had $5-6M from the Astros if Boras hadn’t misplayed his hand prior to the draft.

By: John Lease

John Lease — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 23:56:00 +0000

If he wants to give up the money, do it. Appel won’t be the first idiot, and won’t be the last.

By: ADman2B

ADman2B — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 22:10:00 +0000

I can’t imagine that he won’t sign. He will have absolutely NO leverage next year as a college senior even if he does happen to improve his draft position.