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Reply to "2005 draft"

A couple of cautions.

If you have pro baseball aspirations do not put an unreasonable dollar amount on your self or you will be undrafted.

Do not go pro unless you are mature enough to treat the off-season as a job, as well as the in-season. It is a difficult road to take, albeit a very rewarding one. If you want the ultimate competition and you believe in yourself, you will be very happy with your decision.

You better have mental make-up as well as a work ethic. 6 days a week training in the off-season, proper nutrition, etc. It is no picnic.

Play your cards close to the vest. Remember that when your college coach asks for information, he is interested in protecting his interests.

Don't hide the fact that you have pro aspirations. Let the college coaches know that you will listen to offers if drafted.

Don't hide the fact that the draft may effect your decision as to DNF, but let them know your plan is to attend their university.

Do not let the college coach pin you down to an amount that it will take for you to sign before the draft. He can use that quietly to undermine the process. Do not sign a paper along with the letter of intent stating a dollar amount that you will not sign under. It is yours and your families business. Ask your college coach to not discuss personal conversations that you have with him with scouts.

Don't lie to the scouts. Let them know that you will sign for "fair" slot money. You and your family determine the round at which you draw the line. Scouts will ask you 20 different ways to tie you down to an amount. Don't do it. Fair slot money. That gives you room in the round as negotiations pan out. I hheard a scout say that the player drafted in the same slot lost year got 25,000 when the player was asking 175,000. The previous player was a graduated college fielder and new player was a hs grad. That was this scouts view of slot money. Remember that slot money is there to protect them from going up not DOWN.

The term slot money is purely collusion by baseball. If they did not have an anti-trust exemption by congress, it would be illegal. Almost every round had a player who signed for big bucks way beyond slot money. If they value you, they will pay you. Then they will smokescreen and spin it to say that their were signability issues and that they took a chance and got lucky. Just the way it is.
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