Jemile Weeks to sign with Brewers

[colbyjack]

I popped by a Hurricanes fan forum, and reportedly Weeks is on campus. That really doesn't mean much, as he still has to attend class.

 

The Brewers signed Tom Wilhelmsen the day before he was set to attend classes at an AZ JC. Alex Gordon also reportedly has enrolled for classes for his senior year at Nebraska, but not too many people expect him to attend classes.

[BillScottCanRake]

Weeks can still be signed after classes start, so long as he hasn't attended a class, correct? If things get close, Weeks could always get a "sore throat" the first couple of days of class to give both sides extra time to work out a deal or not.

[JoeHova]

this sucks, can't they just give him what the Astros gave Roger's kid and get this over with? Even if there is only a 1% chance that Jemile develops like Rickie did, $350,000 is a cheap price for a ticket in that lottery.

[emunney]

Hate to split hairs (but not really), but if it is only a 1% chance, then 350,000 dollars is way too much for that ticket. If it's a 20-25% chance, though, I can get behind that.

[ja002h]

During Rickie's chat today, he basically said straight out that negotiations are done and Jemile's going to school.

[dadofandrew]

If Jemile is indeed an 8th round talent, they can't give him much more than slot value, which I would estimate to be about $100-150K. Sounds like the family is big on education, so they probably wanted 3rd round money to sign, or something laong those lines.

 

Too bad, but remember, much of that money is simply flushed away, as only 10% or so ever see the bigs.

[colbyjack]

Well, we'll probably know for sure tomorrow.

 

It's hard to get a read on what exactly is slot value in the 8th round. Austin Jackson signed for $800k, with Koby Clemens making $380k & Andrew Lopez signing for $300k. The lowest bonus in the round went for $12,500, but the seemingly normal bonuses seemed to be in the $75,000-$90,000 range. With his big brother sitting on a monster bonus and overall contract, in which I'm sure he helped out his family to give Jemile financial stability, he can afford to go to college. The negotiations sounded close, so I'm guessing the Brewers were offering a pretty good chunk of change. Tough to turn down, but I never can get down on a young man for attending college.

 

(BTW-I noticed the Mets took Sean McCraw, one of the Brewers DFEs from this past year, in the 8th round and gave him a $150,000 signing bonus...pretty hefty, and from what I know, the Brewers never seriously considered signing him as a DFE).

 

The Brewers could lose two more of their '05 draftees tomorrow, Weatherford College teammates Brent Allar and Jake Arrieta. Both played for the McKinney Marshals in the Texas Collegiate League, and both are signed up to play for TCU this year. TCU's classes open tomorrow as well.

 

Allar didn't pitch after Bill's report under his draft profile in early July, and his name also didn't appear on the Marshals' final roster. Arrieta did, and he pitched very well this summer with a 1.87 ERA over 62.2 innings of work, striking out 54 and allowing only 38 hits. Arrieta's a big fella at 6'4", 225.

 

I have an email in to the Marshals to see if Allar was injured this summer, which would be my guess. Ryan Babineau, who is committed to UCLA, I believe is the only other day 1 pick that can truly get away after Weeks & Allar. Andrew Bailey is expected to return to Wagner College (NY) after having TJ surgery, while Timothy Smith is expected to return to Midland College (TX). Zack Braddock, who had TJ surgery last year, is expected to attend Chipola JC (FL).

[Past Member]

Weeks officially attended classes today at the U!

[Katuluu]

Today the thread title officially becomes ironic!

[Badger OKC]

Good luck to Jemile at Miami. I hope he has a college career as good as his brother's.

[brettac1]

Well, they could always draft him again.

[colbyjack]

Bummer. I thought it would happen eventually. Something must have happened since draft day, as I don't think the Brewers would take a shot at him in the 8th round if they didn't feel they had a really good chance in signing him. Who knows, maybe they determined an 8th round pick was worth the risk, but they have done such a great job signing early picks, not including 2002, and there really wasn't any big signing (like Parra) that would have handcuffed them from signing lil' Weeks.

 

At least they have some time to set their sights on Babineau should they choose to pursue that route. Brent Allar and Jake Arietta were scheduled to attend classes at TCU today, so they may have gotten away as well.

 

I don't mean to diminish the importance of a college education, so best wishes to Jemile.

 

And if he has a college career as good as his brother's and the Brewers are in a position to draft him in 2008, that means the team had a pretty crappy 2007 http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

 

Linkage proof:

 

hurricanesports.collegesp...05aab.html

 

First-year Major League Draft picks, who usually compose part of Miami's recruiting classes, have the option of signing with the team that selected them prior to attending class. Luckily, for the Hurricanes, three picks in the 2005 MLB Draft were at classes Wednesday.

 

Jemile Weeks, an eighth round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers, turned down a chance to play in the same organization as his brother, starting second baseman Rickie Weeks.

 

"He turned down a lot of money to come to school," head coach Jim Morris said. "His brother went to college and was a number one pick. That was a good influence for him to come to school. I think that was the best decision for him and I think he has a chance to be a very good player."

 

Of course he thought is was the best decision for him.

[DHonks]

It's got to be hard for a hitter to pass on college, while it has to be hard for a pitcher to pass on the pros. Just my thoughts, but that'd seem my logic if I was giving advice

[colbyjack]

The quick list of potential "the ones that got away," to my best knowledge so far (Weeks is the only one that is confirmed):

 

8. Jemile Weeks (Miami-attended classes)

11. Brent Allar (TCU-classes started last week)

16. Andrew Bailey (Wagner College-classes started today)

26. Jake Arrietta (TCU-classes started last week)

46. Alex Lowrey (Louisville-classes started last week)

47. Matthew Broughton (Ball State, classes started last week)

49. Cory Large (Texas Tech, classes started today)

50. Garrett Regan (Notre Dame-hockey-classes started 8/23)

 

I hope to have confirmations on all of the unsigned 2005 draft picks when I release my draft recap feature at some point in mid-to-late September. By then hopefully C Ryan Babineau will be signed, sealed & delivered, otherwise add him to the list (UCLA).

[clancyphile]

IIRC, didn't the Brewers sign both Ned Yost IV and Mike Adams after four years of college before the draft?

[SheetsCyYoung04]

I suppose we dont have any updates on Ryan Babineau? Any news? Is he all but certain to be at UCLA?

[colbyjack]

The Brewers still have until September 29th to sign him, but Babineau is likely heading to UCLA.

[Southwest Brewer]

I'm don't know much about the draft.

 

Since Jemile is going to Miami, does that mean he will be up for grabs in the draft next year or do the Brewers keep the rights to him for a certain period of time?

[colbyjack]

Neither. The Brewers lost the rights to Jemile the moment he stepped into a classroom at Miami. As long as he stays at Miami, or at least stays at some 4-year institution (meaning not a JC or CC), he won't be eligible to be drafted again until the 2008.

[BillScottCanRake]

Do the Brewers need Jemile's permission to draft him again? Or does that rule only apply to getting drafted by a team in consecutive years?

[colbyjack]

Yes, the Brewers would need to receive Jemile's permission to draft him again, no matter when that would happen.

[tlpc4]

Colby,

 

How does that work? Does the team contact the player in the weeks leading up to the draft to get permission or is it somehow done on draft day?

[colbyjack]

I'm sure they get permission ahead of the draft. I think there is a letter that just needs to be signed and submitted to the comissioiner's office. I see no reason why Jemile would decline, since the negotiations between he and the Brewers were very cordial.