the scott boras/luke hochevar saga continues | TigerFan.com

tirk · Jul 16, 2006

remember luke hochevar the tennessee ace who sat out last year turning down almost a 3 mill signing bonus with the dodgers? well he was taken again this year by the royals and is close to missing another entire season after being taken #1 overall. 4 mill just doesnt go as far as it used to.

When Hochevar went No. 1 overall in the June draft to the Royals, the assumption was that the parameters of a deal were already in place. After the saga of last Labor Day weekend—Hochevar switched agents and accepted a $2.98 million bonus from the Dodgers (who had made him a supplemental first-round pick), then returned to Boras and reneged on the agreement, accusing the team of trying to coerce him into signing a bad deal—it figured that he couldn’t afford to hold out for another year. And at the same time, Kansas City would look more foolish than usual if it couldn't sign the top pick.

But a month later, 26 of the 30 first-rounders have signed and that group doesn't include Hochevar. The Kansas City Star reported this morning that the Royals' initial offer was in excess of $4 million, and that the team planned to raise that in the near future.

There are a number of reasons the negotiations could be lagging. There was some thought Kansas City might play hardball with Hochevar because he had less leverage than previous No. 1 overall choices, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Major League Baseball likes the bigger draft deals to be consummated later in the summer so they don't affect other negotiations, but the only other player in the first 10 picks who hasn't come to terms is Andrew Miller (No. 6, Tigers), who will command a megacontract anyway. It's also possible that Boras could be waiting to see what Miller signs for in hopes of getting Hochevar more money. Boras' clients often sign later than most other draft picks.

Hochevar's situation led to one of the funnier newspaper corrections I've ever seen posted. In a story the day after the draft, the Los Angeles Times quoted Hochevar: "Scott had a plan in this, and his master plan definitely worked. It was tough through it—you go through it and you fight it—but when it all comes down to it, Scott has a plan for you, and he definitely worked a miracle in my case."
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Club officials previously confirmed their offer to be in excess of $4 million, which is more than Boras and Hochevar sought last year from the Dodgers. It would also be the highest bonus given this season to a first-round pick with 26 of the 30 selections already under contract.

Right-hander Greg Reynolds, the second overall pick, received $3.25 million from Colorado.
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OkieTigerTK · Jul 16, 2006

Poor baby.:bncry:

What the hell is this kid doing for training while sitting out so long?

Talk about two pricks in a pod.

OkieTigerTK · Jul 16, 2006

BTW, got a link to the article?

tirk · Jul 16, 2006

OkieTiger said:

BTW, got a link to the article?
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i kinda combined a kc paper and baseball america i stumbled upon. the latter is an ask ba with jim callis i know you're familiar with.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/baseball/mlb/kansas_city_royals/15048522.htm

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/261866.html

The Times subsequently reported that they had misquoted Hochevar, who had referred to God and not his agent.

Hochevar deserves credit for overcoming a long layoff to show the stuff worthy of going No. 1 in the draft. Pitching in the independent American Association, he looked like he did early in his junior season at Tennessee. But his rhetoric is ridiculous.

First, I doubt seriously that God cares much about whether he signed for $2.98 million with the Dodgers or $4 million or more with the Royals. And second, Hochevar needs to stop acting like Los Angeles mistreated him.

"I learned a great deal of lessons (from my negotiations)," Hochevar said after the Royals took him. "I learned what people I can trust, (one of) which is Scott Boras. In the negotiations with the Dodgers, the scouting director (Logan White) felt I was not worthy to be paid with the top pitchers in the draft."

For the record, the $2.98 million bonus would have been the fifth-highest in the 2005 draft. The only pitcher who received a higher bonus was the Mets' Mike Pelfrey ($3.55 million, as part of a $5.25 million major league contract). The Red Sox' Craig Hansen got a $4 million dollar big league deal with a $1.3 million bonus.
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OkieTigerTK · Jul 16, 2006

Ask and ye shall receive.

Thanks tirk!

Broke · Jul 18, 2006

I had a dream that God wanted me to win the Powerball. Time to pony up Big Guy!!