Smokescreen or Dodger Blue

The latest word on the draft comes from Jim Callis at Baseball America who apparently worked well into last night trying to get the latest scoop on things. He has Bumgarner falling to the Dodgers at number 20 because of his asking price. Below is an excerpt from his mock draft.


20. Dodgers. There was talk Wednesday night that Bumgarner's agent was floating a $2.3 million price tag in order to drop him to Los Angeles, which paid that amount to fellow high school lefty Clayton Kershaw as the No. 6 overall choice in the 2006 draft. The Dodgers would be tempted to take Beavan, Aumont or Heyward.


It's the second source I've seen that indicates some teams are getting scared off by his asking price. Unless it's just a smokescreen to help insure that the Braves have a chance to draft him, it looks like Madison might last a little longer than expected.

 

The only times a kid has leverage for negotiations is before he's drafted & after he's proven himself to be a star. Sounds like the Bumgarners have this figured out. With the opportunity still out there to go to college, I suspect (& hope) they'll succeed.

 

You make a good point, and I wish Madison and his family well whatever happens. Apparently, things are more complicated this year because teams are supposedly under more pressure to stick to a certain dollar figure, so called slot money. Still, given the surprises we always see on draft day, the chances are probably fifty-fifty at best that he ends up with the Dodgers.

 

How quickly does the draft move? About what time do you expect him to be drafted if he is going anywhere from 15-20?

Coverage starts at 2pm on ESPN? right?

 

I think I read there would be 15 minutes between picks, so it could take a while.

 

thanks, I guess Ill check in here from time to time!

 

Now the latest report on mlb.com has even the Dodgers unwilling to meet his demands. They have Madison falling to the Twins with the 25th pick. At this point, who really knows if these rumors have any credibility. We'll just have to wait and watch the real thing in a couple of hours.

 

I have a hunch that this is just posturing on the ML teams part. They're bluffing the Bumgarners, trying to get them to flinch. Hang tough Maddy & get the contract you deserve.

 

I know he's a good kid, and has the chance to be a great pitcher, but encouraging to "stay strong and get the money he deserves" is pretty crazy. He's done nothing to prove he deserves anything more than what is typical of where he's drafted.

 

I've been called worse than crazy by my wife!

Maddy is already a great pitcher. If not, he wouldn't be a 1st round lock. He was born with 90%, but has put in the hours getting ready for this moment (the other 10%). He has a commodity to sell to MLB that they need. Yes, they need him. Otherwise he wouldn't be offered a penny.

So this 18 year old kid is suddenly thrust into the adult business world at a high level. I hope he gets great advice & is tough in negotiating & demands the fat contract that he deserves now & will earn soon enough. Just one man's opinion...