Angels give up on Weaver

[brettac1]

Read about it in the print edition of USA Today, yet to find a link for it, but apparently Jared Weaver will be back in the draft this year. Any chance the Brewers take him? Or is the price tag too high?

 

Edit: Here's a LINK

 

According to a number of published reports, the Angels had offered a $5.25 million, five-year deal to the right-hander. Weaver and his agent, Scott Boras, had initially asked for a reported $10.5 million but had lowered their price to $8 million.

[batman]

Here's another good article:

 

www.mercurynews.com/mld/m...055051.htm

 

~Bill

[DHonks]

good to see the Angels be firm with him. Now the real trick will be next year. I have a hunch he'll reopen negotiations and sign just before the draft, because I know he'd hate to get drafted again next with a team having a much smaller draft budget than the Angels' and saying "sign or you'll miss 2 seasons...look at Matt Harrington."

[UWRyan428]

I don't see the Angels signing him for anywhere near what Boras is asking. With the Kendry Morales signing, and the Nick Adenhart signing, do the Angels truly NEED another bonafide prospect? I know a lot of teams would love to have Weaver, but Arte Moreno doesn't have the bottomless pockets a lot of people think he does. Do I have to remind everyone he LOWERED beer prices upon becoming owner??? That's not going to get Jered his fat deal! I mean, if Boras "feels" that there isn't going to be a marker for his client's services, then Boras will take the money and run. But I don't see it playing out that way. Boras will ensure that Jered gets his money, most likely from DePodesta, who already owns the rights to his big brother. I would, however, love to see the Brewers find a way, OUTSIDE OF USING #5 ON THE GUY, to insert the guy into the Huntsville rotation. He's a cool-demeanored dominator, who is almost major-league ready, though he wouldn't have pitched collegiately in over a year. And with the extra money we'll save from not having a 2nd rounder OR a highly-inflated payroll, you know we're on Boras's radar. And with Attanasio feeling a bit transplanted in the Midwest, you can bet Attanasio would jump at bringing a bit of California to Milwaukee.

[UWRyan428]

Also, how much would the threat of not signing Jered scare Boras? He just witnessed the classic example of JD Drew cash in with the Dodgers; JD, who once invoked the ire of Curt Schilling by playing in the Independent Leagues after the Phillies drafted him in the first round. He then cashed in the next draft when the Cardinals met his demands. I would say that JD's brother, Stephen, is also going to be entering his name back into the draft, though the Diamondbacks have mounds of cash after the Shawn Green and Randy Johnson deals included over $10 million collectively.

[bjkrautk]

If this is anything like the Tigers' GM announcement ending negotiations with Verlander, I'm sure Weaver will be signed next week. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[colbyjack]

If the Angels keep their deal on the table, I think Weaver will still eventually sign with the Angels. Unless some other team jumps in (even though that would constitute tampering) and promises Weaver bigger and better money in this upcoming draft.

 

You never know...

 

I think Stephen Drew is going to re-enter the draft. He was selected when Colangelo was still the owner. With a completely new owernership group I think the Drew negotiations are going to get lost. The D-Backs will take the money they will save by not signing Drew & use it on the #1 overall pick, the first pick in the supplemental round and the first pick in the 2nd round, not to mention an additional supplemental first rounder for losing Drew. With the first overall pick in every round, the D-Backs naturally are in a position to spend more than any other team. Oh yeah, they also have an additional early 3rd rounder (from the Mariners for Sexson). The D-Backs are poised to have a big, big draft as long as they have the money to sign the picks they have, and I'm sure they will.

 

Drew re-entering the draft certainly would make things interesting (as would Weaver).

 

With the Kendry Morales signing, and the Nick Adenhart signing, do the Angels truly NEED another bonafide prospect?

 

Don't forget about Mark Trumbo. But yes, any team could use another bonafide prospect, now matter how many good prospects they already have. They're not going to base their decision on the other players they have already signed.

 

I would, however, love to see the Brewers find a way, OUTSIDE OF USING #5 ON THE GUY, to insert the guy into the Huntsville rotation. He's a cool-demeanored dominator, who is almost major-league ready, though he wouldn't have pitched collegiately in over a year. And with the extra money we'll save from not having a 2nd rounder OR a highly-inflated payroll, you know we're on Boras's radar. And with Attanasio feeling a bit transplanted in the Midwest, you can bet Attanasio would jump at bringing a bit of California to Milwaukee.

 

Not having a 2nd round pick doesn't mean the Brewers have an extra $5 million + to play with. If you don't want to use the fifth overall selection on Weaver, then selecting & signing him just isn't going to happen. If the Brewers are going to deal with Boras, personally I'd rather have Luke Hochevar from Tennessee with the #5 overall pick than Weaver.

 

And it's not like the Brewers were cheap when it came to the draft before Attanasio bought the team. The Brewers have already been one of the bigger spending teams the past couple of years when it comes to their draftees. I agree they may not be scared off by a Boras client come June, and may be able to roll over some money since they don't have a 2nd round pick into the bonus they offer their first-rounder, but I doubt they're going to drastically overpay any pick.

 

Also, how much would the threat of not signing Jered scare Boras?

 

Scott Boras scared? It's not going to happen. Scott Boras is never the first one to blink.

[brettac1]

You really think Hochevar is better than Weaver, colby? Is it because of the lay-off, or just overall he's the better pitcher?

[colbyjack]

You really think Hochevar is better than Weaver, colby? Is it because of the lay-off, or just overall he's the better pitcher?

 

Yes, I do like Hochevar better than Weaver at similar stages of their careers. I've seen Hochevar pitch a couple of times and am impressed not only with his measurables (size + stuff), but his ability to change speeds and command the strike zone. His secondary offerings are much better than Weaver's, who really didn't have plus pitch past his fastball, and his fastball velocity was really eractic. I had Weaver rated #1 all last spring, but that had a lot to do with the question marks that surrounded so many of the other draft-eligible players. Verlander had no control, Humber wasn't viewed as a true #1, Niemann couldn't stay healthy, Townsend had makeup & other issues, etc. Weaver was the one guy that simply produced.

 

The lay-off doesn't help Weaver, as I view Wade Townsend in a similar fashion. For me though, Hochevar has less questions than Weaver does at this stage, and he is backing his size & stuff with his good start, even if it isn't against the best teams in the nation. We'll see how Hochevar fares once he starts playing against the rest of the SEC.

 

And if you haven't noticed yet, I also like Ricky Romero, a lot. He doesn't have great size, and his listed height of 6'1" may be a stretch, but he throws consistently in the low-90s with a killer curve and solid changeup. On top of that, he's a fierce competitor. When dollar value is gauged to get the best value, I probably would take Romero over both Weaver & Hochevar.

[RyDogg66]

I'd like to see one of two things happen

 

1.) Weaver doesn't sign, then gets hurt.

 

2.) Weaver doesn't sign, and then gets drafted in the second round, or supplemental round, buy the Angels and they stay firm with their offer.

 

 

That's be so sweet.

[colbyjack]

1. I would never wish for any player to get hurt.

 

2. A team has to receive permission from a player to draft them again. If Weaver goes unsigned by the Angels, I'm sure Weaver would decline permission unless the Angels magically offer more than what they currently are.

 

As much as I dislike what Boras does to the sport, more than anything else I want to see players healthy & contribuing. For the love of the game I really want to see what Weaver will do at the pro level.

[SoCalBrewfan]

I agree with colby that I would never wish for a player to get hurt. Perhaps Boras could sustain a career-ending injury, though? A severe tear of his lateral checkbook or something?

[ja002h]

I agree with colby that I would never wish for a player to get hurt.

 

That's nice, but I have little sympathy for me-first prima donnas who think they're bigger than the game and deserve big money for never doing a thing. I hope he snaps an arm.

[xisxisxis]

I have little sympathy for me-first prima donnas who think they're bigger than the game and deserve big money for never doing a thing. I hope he snaps an arm.

 

I think that's a bit harsh and you might be over-reacting or over-interpreting the situation. Owners have notoriously caved in or been manipulatable by agents. The agent attempts to get as much as possible and the player let's his agent do his job. My problem is that Boras is representing someone who hasn't thrown a pitch in organized baseball and they haven't had years of income to rely on or as a nest-egg. Boras needs to look out for his client #1 and it seems with many of these draftee holdouts that he's willing to gamble the players money to make sure he doesn't "give in" to the team. Often it still works out for the player, but on occassion the player is screwed (see Matt Harrington). I don't fault Weaver for trying to get everything he can, but I do fault him for putting too much trust in his agent and that agent isn't necessarily thinking of the client first.

 

Edit: Harrington wasn't a Boras client (I think Arn Tellem was the one that screwed him?). He's just an example of a player who gets screwed by an agent because the agent's primary goal isn't what's best for the player.

[RyDogg66]

Are Tellum or Boras lawyers?

 

The reason I am asking is because I am currently taking a Sports Lw class here at the Law School and one thing we talk about is how players would be so much better off being represented by Lawyers vs. striclty "agents". In this case, if Boras or Tellum advise Weaver, previously Harrington, to NOT sign for say, 3 million, then they get hurt, or the offers just go down and down and down...if these guys are lawyers they could be subjected a malpractice suit, agents though,there are is no remedy for the player. Further, if you are represented by the lawyer that lawyer can handle your tax implications, set up a will, trusts, deal with real estate, be an over all advisor. Of course, the players for the most part dont realize this but oh well.

[lend d money]

That sounds cool! They didn't offer that course at UW-W 20 years ago.

[RyDogg66]

yeah the class is really cool. We talk about a lot of labor issues, obviously, Anti-trust, etc. The class is taught by the one and only Ed Garvey, who actually helped establish the NFLPA (He is a big left politician in WI, ran, unsuccessfully for Governor and Senate.) so in between lessons there are plenty of Bush jokes and cracks against Wal-Mart.

 

In fact he told one funny story about having Mark Green (a republican politician from Green Bay) in a class. Green saw Garvey some years later and told him he liked his class and thanks for the good grade. Garvey, pulling no punches, says "Oh that was you, if I had known that, I'd have flunked you." Of course he says it in jest...but you've got to wonder.

 

But back to the topic of this thread.

 

I have seriously considered breaking into the "agent" business by doing just what Garvey suggests, offerering services that a player could not get from a regular agent. For one I am specializing in contracts and negotiations, and that is exactly what these players need when it comes to dealing with the league. Add to that enough understanding of Trusts and Estates, real estate and Tax and you essentially can help that player - like I said earlier - with all contracts, with teams and endorsements as well as setting up trusts for their kids, wills, buying real estate and familiarizing them with tax laws of whatever state they live in. being a general legal counsel.

 

Garvey agrees with me that the best sport or rather the easiest sport to break into is baseball, since baseball and football have so many rounds in the draft the so few players are "wild cards" - what I mean is, you know who the studs will be in the NBA or NFL on draft day. There are always a few surprises but for the most part you know who they are so the best agents can get them with little to no work.

 

My plan for baseball would involve a partnership with someone who is a "scout" (someone like Colby for example, or an ex MLB scout) to help identify the talent someplace like Miami or Phoeniz or SoCal and then represent them from the time they are drafted, even - and especially if they are a mid to low level prospect. The better scouting you have the better chance you have of getting the right kid. Essentially, it is easier to get clients in baseball - but harder to identify who will make it to the pro level.

[lend d money]

Off topic slightly, I sat two rows behind Ed Garvey and his family at the last Brewers game at County Stadium.