Draft Picks To Get Lower Signing Bonuses?

[Max Power]

This thread - http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/...&threadid=6948

sparked the question - - will signing bonuses be reduced via the new CBA?

This BBA article has a fun look at how it might work:

Live from New York: The draft
By Alan Schwarz
September 27, 2002

NEW YORK–The script for a new play has been causing quite a stir here in the Big Apple not on Broadway, but a few blocks over on Park Avenue. "Triumphant!" one reviewer yelped. "Long Time Coming!" cried another.

The production, tentatively titled "Sandy Alderson’s Dream," opens next June following Major League Baseball’s draft, and depicts how the draft’s new compensation system–awarding teams that don’t sign their first-round pick virtually the same pick the following year–should finally give teams the leverage and/or guts to walk away from money-mining players and agents.

Baseball America has procured some pages from the manuscript and presents selected scenes here.

Page 11–Diamond, Texas
Scouting director Dusty Talenhunt sits on metal bleachers watching a top-10 caliber pitcher, Kenny Armchucker. A longtime agent (Jerry McGoner) sidles up to him.
McGoner: "Great arm."
Talenhunt: "Yessir."
McGoner stares at the field. Surreptitiously but confidently: "I know you’re picking seventh, Dusty. Tell you what–No. 7 got $2.5 million last year. Figuring in inflation, Kenny’s water-polo scholarship and my special personal formula (ego equals money times contract squared), Kenny’s price is $3.1 million. If you agree to that, I’ll get him to slip to you."
Talenhunt, puffing on his cigar: "Go ahead. Make my day."

Page 24–Draft Room
The curtain rises with Hill Cave, the scouting director of a small-revenue club that drafts second, talking with his Texas area scout about Armchucker the night before the draft.
Scout: "He’s the best kid in the country, but we can’t afford him."
Cave: "Why not?"
Scout: "He says he wants $5.4 million to go No. 2."
Cave: "I know he wants that."
Scout: "Well, I have doubts that he wants to play professional baseball for us."
Cave places a call to the pitcher’s home and speaks to him and his father, Jim Armchucker, who conferences in agent McGoner.
Jim: "We just want what’s fair. That’s $5.4 million."
Cave: "I understand. Just one last thing–and what other skills does Kenny have that can earn him seven figures tomorrow?"
Cave gets a halfhearted response about finishing college, nods calmly and soon ends the conversation. He gets up, takes the pitcher’s magnetic name card and places it at No. 2 on the draft board.

Page 37–June 11
One week after selecting Armchucker with the No. 2 pick, Hill Cave sits down with agent McGoner for a bargaining session.
McGoner: "Well you know, Hill, No. 2 got $4.6 million last year, and with inflation and my formula . . . "
Cave: "Yes, I remember."
McGoner: "The family won’t sign for anything less than 5.4."
Cave: "We’re happy to offer 3.0."
McGoner: "Three-point-oh? What are you trying to do?"
Cave: "I’m trying to sign this player."
McGoner, a bead of sweat on his temple: "Well, you’re not going to do it for that!"
Cave: "That’s OK. I understand. You send Kenny to Henderson State, and I’ll get the No. 3 pick next year instead."
McGoner’s bead of sweat falls on his loafer.

Page 48–Two days later
McGoner, Kenny and his parents sit in the Armchucker living room. The father is upset.
Jim: "But you told us you’d get 5.4 million."
McGoner: "Yes, but they’re holding the line on 3.0. I don’t understand it. I’m sure I can get it up into the high fours."
Jim: "What makes you so sure? If Kenny doesn’t sign, we could miss the chance of a lifetime."
McGoner: "Well, now that you mention it, they do have an option that didn’t exist last year–they could let Johnny go and just take the No. 3 pick next year. They sound pretty serious about that. You could go for the sure thing and take the 3.0."
Kenny, fidgeting on the couch: "Hey, I just want to play."

Page 67–Early July
Not having spoken to the Armchuckers or McGoner for three weeks, scouting director Cave is getting antsy. He decides to place a call to Sandy Alderson.
Cave: "Hey, Sandy. How ’bout those A’s?"
Alderson: "Yeah, yeah."
Cave: "Sandy, I’m getting a little nervous with this Armchucker thing. I really have to sign this kid."
Alderson, rolling his eyes: "Have to? Why?"
Cave: "He could be a No. 1 or 2 starter in the big leagues."
Alderson: "Yes, I know. I see here they want 5.4. That’s ridiculous, given your club’s cash flow. You shouldn’t need to pay that. You’ve offered 3.0, right? If that’s what you guys have to offer, I don’t see them passing it up."
Cave: "That’s easy for you to say, Sandy. What if they do pass?"
Alderson: "Then you get the No. 3 pick next year. That doesn’t seem so bad. I hear talent’s going to be deep."
Cave grabs a book from his shelf–Alderson’s spiral-bound primer for draft negotiations, "Getting To Uh-Oh".
Cave: "OK, I know what you mean. Hey, one thing–isn’t this collusion, with me and other scouting directors talking with the central office about bonus negotiations?"
Alderson, frustrated: "For the last time, Hill, collusion only applies to major league free agents. Besides, negotiation is all about options, remember? You have the option of getting a comparable kid next year. They have the option of passing up 3 million bucks."

Page 71–Shopping Mall
Kenny and two pals stroll through the local mall, shoelaces untied. Kenny is a little paunchier than when he was pitching.
Pal No. 1: "Yo man, nice lid."
Pal No. 2: "Yeah, what hat is that?"
Kenny: "The St. Paul Saints. They sent it to me last week."
Pal No. 2: "Who are they?"
Kenny: "I’m not sure. Jerry said they were an interferent league team I can pitch for while I negotiate. Matt Harrington played there."
Pal No. 1, baffled: "Who?"
Kenny: "Dude, I . . . I don’t want to talk about it."
Kenny breaks away from his friends and stands at the center of the stage. Music begins. He begins singing softly, to the tune of John Denver’s "Leaving on a Jet Plane":

Oh, my bags are packed, I’m ready to go
I’m standing here, right at the door
There’s nothing I want more than to say goodbye.
But the talks are stalling, my agent’s cross
My mother’s crying, my dad’s my boss
Already I’m so tired I could die.
So kiss me and smile for me
Hope the team will wait for me
Hold my spot until they let me go.
’Cause I’m mired, in a holdout . . .

Page 119–Mid-August
After most of the summer passes, agent McGoner calls scouting director Cave and proposes the following: $4.7 million with a major league contract.
Cave, calmly but with resolve: "Are you out of your mind? I’m not giving any high school pitcher a major league contract."
McGoner: "At least give me $4.5 straight-up. My reputation’s on the line here."
Cave: "Sorry, Jerry, but I certainly didn’t tell you to tell the family 5.4. I just saw this incoming senior in a showcase throw 94 with a good change, for crying out loud . . . Tell you what. I’ll come up to 3.3."
McGoner: "Don’t do this to me."
Cave: "Hey, man. All the other clubs have done the same thing. You wanted slot-plus, right? Market, right? Well, the guys at No. 3 and No. 4 went down to the low threes, also. That’s the new market."

Page 122–The Next Day
McGoner speaks to the Armchuckers via cell phone from a major league ballpark, where he’s visiting some other clients.
McGoner: "Look, I’m not telling you what to do. My job is to lay out the options."
Jim: "And they are?"
McGoner: "They’re at 3.3. I can get them to go up to 3.5, I’m sure."
Jim: "That’s a lot less than what you told us when we hired you."
McGoner: "But it’s a lot more than nothing."
Jim: "No kidding. And what’s zero percent of a lot more than nothing?"

Page 151–Outback Steakhouse
Kenny and his new Appalachian League teammates grab a bite on a road trip.
Teammate No. 1: "Geez, I’m wiped. These bus rides are killing me."
Teammate No. 2: "Hey, you going to instructional league?"
Kenny: "Yeah. One week off then Florida."
Teammate No. 1, stuffing eight wedges of Bloomin’ Onion into his mouth: "I thought they canceled instructional league."
Kenny: "Nah, I guess they found money in the budget. Don’t know where."
Teammate No. 1: "Speaking of budgets, you got that 3.4 in your pocket. When we shoppin’ for your new wheels?"
Kenny: "How ’bout tomorrow? It’s not my throw day."
Teammate No. 1: "Cool."
Teammate No. 2, a 21st-round pick from college: "Just don’t park in my spot when you get to the big leagues."
The guys laugh all around as the steaks arrive. When the check comes, all three sit silently–before Kenny sighs and reaches for the bill. The curtain falls.

[JamesI]

I hope draft pick bonuses drop. Until they succeed in the majors, they should not make that kind of money.

[Max Power]

Originally posted by JamesI
I hope draft pick bonuses drop. Until they succeed in the majors, they should not make that kind of money.

The multi-sport prospects will probably always get something big - they have the leverage.

[KCBOOMER]

The teams would be far smarter to save their money for minor league coaches, facilities, and even players salaries than blowing it on bonuses.

I think every study has shown that baseball number one choices lag way behind other sports as far as panning out goes.