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Mark Appel Doesn't Sign With the Pirates, Will Return to Stanford

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  • Mark Appel Doesn't Sign With the Pirates, Will Return to Stanford

    Mark Appel spurns Pittsburgh Pirates and will stay at Stanford - ESPN

    NEW YORK -- Highly touted pitcher Mark Appel spurned the Pittsburgh Pirates and decided to remain at Stanford for his senior season, the first big casualty of baseball's new restrictions on amateur signing bonuses.

    Appel was the only unsigned player among 31 first-round picks, turning down an offer of $3.8 million from the Pirates.

    Projected by some to be the No. 1 selection, some teams shied away from the right-hander because of the expected demands of his adviser, Scott Boras. Appel was selected eighth by the Pirates.

    That slot was assigned $2.9 million from the drafting team's bonus pool in baseball's new labor contract, which imposes penalties on clubs that exceed the threshold -- the totals of the slots for a team's selections in the first 10 rounds.

    Pittsburgh was prepared to go as much as 5 percent above its threshold and incur the first level of penalty, a 75 percent tax on the overage. But the Pirates didn't want to fall into higher levels, which include the loss of future draft picks.
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    Pretty risky for him as a pitcher, and a player at Stanford to pass up almost $4 million guaranteed.

  • #2
    Yeah it sure was. Being the Pirates, he probably would have been fast tracked thru the minors and in the majors faster than anywhere else. Maybe its not about money. It could be about playing for a team that has 19 consecutive losing seasons. If it was about finishing his education first, I can't find fault with that.

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    • #3
      He would have been 1st pick too, but Boras told Astros the slot money recommendation wouldn't be enough. So he really has gained nothing, as he would have had #1 pick money, which he likely won't get next year.

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      • #4
        I'd give up $4 million to not have to go to Pittsburgh also.

        Collecting: Browns/Cavaliers/Indians GU/Autos,
        Ohio State Autos, Jamaal Charles GU/Autos,
        Johnson/Mears/
        Reutimann/Nadeau

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        • #5
          What a wasted pick by the Pirates. LOL!

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          • #6
            Originally posted by key2win View Post
            What a wasted pick by the Pirates. LOL!
            It's not wasted, they get the 9th pick in next year's draft in compensation.

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            • #7
              I meant for this year.

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              • #8
                Probably for the best that they took appel because they were linked to Deven Marerro who wound up going #21. #9 should be fine next year.

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