Little Drew signs with an Indy League...

[warrick95]

Following in his brother's footsteps:
Stephen Drew - SS - Diamondbacks


Unsigned first-round pick Stephen Drew is set to join the Camden Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League.
Drew and the Diamondbacks have been unable to work out a deal, so it appears the former FSU shortstop will reenter the June draft. Apr. 20 - 1:22 pm et
Source: Cherry Hill Courier-Post



So people are ripping him and in preparation for that, here's some stuff I had to say about Stephen on another message board:


Baseball is a job for these people. It's their income. When you first start playing baseball, it's for the love of the game, but for these professionals playing well over a hundred games a year, it gets to a point where it's just a job. I feel that most probably like it on some level, but it is still their jobs. You obviously would not work below what you believe you should make, right? More power to Dirt for maintaining his market value and not budging to settle below. If I played baseball, there's no way in hell I'd sign below what I think I should get.

The Diamondbacks are the people to blame here for being too cheap to sign him. They knew what he was demanding and still drafted him. It's the risk they were taking. Notice how this didn't happen with teams that were willing to pay. The Rays forked over a lot to Niemann. If the D-Backs don't want him, somebody else will.

I met Stephen at the FSU/UVa game last year. Nice guy...a bit quiet. He has the tools to make it big.




And this part is in context to what somebody else said...I'm too lazy to edit and stuff to make it sound more flowing by itself, but it's not too hard to figure out what the other party had to say...basically that Drew's greedy and making the foolish comparison of the gap between his salary and what the D-Backs offered in comparison to what the D-Backs offered vs. Teixeira's contract.



Say I think I can work for $12 an hour. Instead, I am offered $10 an hour. I don't think that's right. $12 an hour is a 20% increase. The percentages between the numbers of baseball players (Weeks to Teixeira is only a 25% increase...it'd be like from $10 to $12.50) is actually at a very similar level.

Look, when you're rich, yes, you make money than people like yourself and me, but the point is that if you think you can make more cash, you shouldn't settle for less. And keep my % examples in mind. It's not that ridiculous...

It may be greed in your book, but it's discretion in mine. It's the only smart thing to do. Would YOU work for a significantly lower salary than you think you should receive? It doesn't matter how much it is, it's the percentage.

And comparing YOUR salary to THEIR salary is ludicrous. The market value for THEIR job is much higher than the market value for YOUR job.

I brought up the Niemann example because he's one of the highest paid players in this year's draft. Drew commanded more from the beginning and demanded more. Weaver may have been the highest paid had he decided to sign, but Drew probably deserves to be the highest paid in this year's draft.

Unfortunately, Stephen and Boras are being made out to be the bad guys here. The real idiots are the Diamondbacks for drafting him while KNOWING OF HIS DEMANDS. Drew has not suddenly said, I want more money. He's never wavered from his demands. The Diamondbacks knew how much he wanted and are unwilling to pay. So why'd they draft him in the first place?

By the way, it's a traditional Boras tactic to not waver while negotiating. It also pays off in the long run for Scott Boras, since most of the time, he ends up getting what he wants for his clients (there are a few incidents like Weaver and the Drews that pop up), but he has a good track record. For example, he signed that HUGE long-term deal for a very questionable Magglio Ordonez. And by the way, the contract will NOT be voided because it only covered knee injuries and not DL stints on a whole. Pure genius. Again, I state that Scott Boras is my freaking idol.

College players and High School players have proven themselves at the level of competition that they have played at in their respective leagues (for stars, at a significant level higher than the rest of the field) and thus command this market value. They didn't set the market value for these players, by the way...the market has been set. Teams have proven that they're willing to pay that much money for prospects.

[hybrid]

Well well, look what we got here. A player following in his brothers foot steps.

I personally don't have any sympathy for him though I do like him as a player since I've watched him play at FSU. He was offered lots of money and he wanted more, just like his brother. It's sad if you ask me, he is fighting for millions when so many others aren't nearly as fortunate. Reminds me of that brat in Willy Wonka, you know the one.

Like everyone else there are cons against Drew, that of course he doesn't want to hear about. You have to take into account many people question his make up and him staying healthy. That HAS to be taken into account and his agent of course won't hear anything that will negatively affect his value.

I'm not saying the D'Backs have no fault in this, but it's a fact Boras always requires more then his players should get, that to me IS greed.

[Yoda]

Well well, look what we got here. A player following in his brothers foot steps.

I personally don't have any sympathy for him though I do like him as a player since I've watched him play at FSU. He was offered lots of money and he wanted more, just like his brother. It's sad if you ask me, he is fighting for millions when so many others aren't nearly as fortunate. Reminds me of that brat in Willy Wonka, you know the one.

Like everyone else there are cons against Drew, that of course he doesn't want to hear about. You have to take into account many people question his make up and him staying healthy. That HAS to be taken into account and his agent of course won't hear anything that will negatively affect his value.

I'm not saying the D'Backs have no fault in this, but it's a fact Boras always requires more then his players should get, that to me IS greed.

I don't know why people think that it is a player's fault when most players have an agent that makes the decisions on their behalf. Why people constantly blame the players is beyond me.

AZ knew what they were getting into. Moorad himself was just as bad as Boras was. You have to fault the AZ management for this one. They most likely were told what it would take to sign Drew and they took him anyway. WTF?

[hybrid]

I don't know why people think that it is a player's fault when most players have an agent that makes the decisions on their behalf. Why people constantly blame the players is beyond me.

AZ knew what they were getting into. Moorad himself was just as bad as Boras was. You have to fault the AZ management for this one. They most likely were told what it would take to sign Drew and they took him anyway. WTF?

Maybe cause the player picks his own agent? It just shows from the beginning that he wants as much money as humanly possibly.

I still don't see how you can fault only one side, it's not like any one of us is in the board room listening to what is being said. Both should deserve about equal blame IMO.

[wrveres]

this is why they should institute a prospect salary cap.

Basically you all just made the arguement that only the big market teams should be allowed to get all of the big name prospects since they are the only ones able to sign them.
I think it was the comment, If you can't afford to sign him, move on and let somebody else draft him.

There is something serioussly flawed with that arguement.


serioussly

[Phatferd]

this is why they should institute a prospect salary cap.

Basically you all just made the arguement that only the big market teams should be allowed to get all of the big name prospects since they are the only ones able to sign them.
I think it was the comment, If you can't afford to sign him, move on and let somebody else draft him.

There is something serioussly flawed with that arguement.


serioussly

I agree totally. Why is it fair to order the draft from worst to best if a team picking 20th can end up with the best player? That isn't right.

As an Angel fan I know how it feels to waste a pick, such as Weaver. The Angels offered him 7-8 mil at one point and he turned it down. They were willing to make him the 2nd most paid pitcher to ever come out of the draft and he wanted more.

Why should teams pay them what they want? Should they bitch about drafting him then? No, but the player has the ultimate say not the Agent. If they player wants to play bad enough he will play and if he pisses off his agent he has the right to fire him.

[Yoda]

I don't know why people think that it is a player's fault when most players have an agent that makes the decisions on their behalf. Why people constantly blame the players is beyond me.

AZ knew what they were getting into. Moorad himself was just as bad as Boras was. You have to fault the AZ management for this one. They most likely were told what it would take to sign Drew and they took him anyway. WTF?

Maybe cause the player picks his own agent? It just shows from the beginning that he wants as much money as humanly possibly.

I still don't see how you can fault only one side, it's not like any one of us is in the board room listening to what is being said. Both should deserve about equal blame IMO.

So Hybrid, if you knew that you had skills that people wanted you to pay you for and you had a choice of agents, what would you do? I know I'd pick Boras b/c I know he will get me the most money. That is if he was willing to represent me.

[Transmogrifier]

this is why they should institute a prospect salary cap.

Basically you all just made the arguement that only the big market teams should be allowed to get all of the big name prospects since they are the only ones able to sign them.
I think it was the comment, If you can't afford to sign him, move on and let somebody else draft him.

There is something serioussly flawed with that arguement.


serioussly

I agree. The money first rounders get is absurd. Prior should be a Twin.

[LBJackal]

Yep, there should be tiered and automatic salaries given to players selected in the draft, like the NBA kind of. It's ridiculous that these young guys are turning down millions because they think they deserve a bit more. This is mostly the work of agents who want to keep their reputation as getting what players want and not budging. It's too bad for all the players who get screwed by turning down huge contracts to go to College or play in another league and end up making 10% of what they originally tuned down. A lot of them never make it either. I don't feel too bad for them because it's in their own hands, but I think agents deceive them and ultimately only have their own interests in mind. Also, players aren't allowed to discuss contracts and money with teams before the draft I don't think... which is a rule that is never followed. At least I think that's a rule

[GameOn]

Drew was going to get millions before he ever even stepped onto minor league sod, I just do not understand the justification for asking for more money. Sure if you have played in the majors for 6 or 7 years and you hold out for more money (i.e. Beltran), fans might blast you but they at least understand. Boras has lost his mind when he thinks a college player should get what 7 or 8 million? I do not even understand why teams still deal with him.

On another note...Drew in an independent league? He is gonna flat out rake there.