could this be???

Once a player attends one class the team looses all rights.
Not sure what you mean by special clause.

I would think he's done as far as minor league until after three years of school or 21. He's started class. Wouldn't make a difference who has rights.

quote:

I would think he's done as far as minor league until after three years of school or 21.

This is my understanding of how it works, but have been told in this case, (and I quote), a "work around" clause (some legal wording of some type) was inserted in the contract to make allowances if this scenario happened. Just wondering if loopholes existed that possibly could make this true.

What loophole could it be?

It is clearly stated that once a player sets foot on campus they lose rights to that player. If a 4 year player, they must wait until he is 21 or junior or a JUCO another year to draft him again.


The same way it is if a player signs with an agent he loses his eligibility. No loopholes.

Does anyone know differently?

coach, there cannot be a "contract" in use that the player signed.
If the player signed a MLB contract, then he is not eligible for college baseball at the DI level. So, the clause could not be in that contract.
There is no contract with a DI, it is an NLI and MLB will not recognize any language in an NLI. MLB has the rules about the draft and they aren't full of loopholes and you cannot have a contract with a school or the NLI that gives you any leverage with the draft.
To illustrate, Rice had a pitcher drafted 2 years ago. Not signed during the summer. He went to class but said he would not play college baseball. He asked MLB to waive the provision and allow him to continue to negotiate with his drafting team. MLB said that upon returning to school and enterring the classroom, the player lost his draft eligibility until the next year he would be eligible, whether he plays or not. So that player lost both in the draft and forfeited a college season.
There isn't much wiggle room here. I think there might be some misunderstanding of what happened in the situation you describe. Based on that player going to school, he lost his ability to sign until he is again draft eligible whether he played in college or not.

sorry..I guess I was not clear in that the young man did not sign the MLB contract. Seems he was very undecided at the time right up until classes started and ended up going on to college but now has second thoughts.
The person who was talking about this said... and I quote again, "He has an out" because of something (a clause of some kind) that was put in the original contract offered.

Thanks for all your responses!

What I questioned was the person saying it wasn't the first day of class attendance that meant he would forego his draft eligiblity, it was the playing in the first official game of the season and somehow that was stated in the contract offered.

IFDad... when would this young man become draft eligible again say if he would decide not to play ball this spring?

coach, if he didn't sign the contract, then any "out" in the contract cannot be enforced by him.
The "out" would only become possible if he signed the contract and "IF" it was signed and accepted by MLB. Any "waiver" or "addition" to the MLB standard form contract would require MLB approval.
If your information is right, and the player did not sign the contract, the player has no right to enforce an "out" since there isn't a contract. It is just an offer that was rejected. From what you were provided, this player does not have an "out."

quote:

IFDad... when would this young man become draft eligible again say if he would decide not to play ball this spring?

coach, so long as he stays in a 4 year college, he can next be draft eligible when he is 21 or after his junior year. This is true whether he plays in the Spring or does not. That was the point of my reference to the pitcher from Rice. MLB does not care whether you play, they care if you are enrolled.
If he transferred to a JC, before Spring,then I think he could be eligible earlier than that as are all other JC players.

Thanks IFdad...now I can stand firm in my discussion that this just couldn't be the case!
That there is absolutely no way this young man at this point in time can go pro.

quote:

If he transferred to a JC, before Spring,then I think he could be eligible earlier than that as are all other JC players.

Didn't catch this first time thru....would he be eligible for draft this June?

I am not the best resource for the JC. With that said, my impression is that if the player transfered to the JC and played there, then they have draft eligibility come June of 2007. I cannot think of a reason they would not. Many players took the JC route for the draft and follow until MLB removed the DFE option this Fall. So, it seems logical the player who transfers from a DI to a JC and plays there is draft eligible as a JC player. This is from general knowledge of JC, not ever having looked at it as carefully as the 4 year option, and knowing not everything here is always logical.

Why can't said player sign a free agent contract?

Move to the DR are some other country.
They don't have to be drafted?
Heck you can be under 18 and get a contract.

Now if said player was drafted out of HS.
And stepped foot onto a 4 year college campus.
Drafted team loses draft right's to said player.

Now if said player leave's college in middle of first semester.
Can player sign a free agent contract with any team?
Are does the original drafting team have some right's to that player.
I would think that would have to be the case??
I don't know that's why I'm asking?
EH

What is really trying to be achieved here?

Just play the dang game. Go search all the rules of leverge, but his thread is a waste of time.

FIELD OF PLAY...........the great common denominator! Move on !!

Yes play the game, That's what it's about.

But I still want to know the answer to my question?
EH

I would say he can not be a free agent because he WAS drafted. He chose to go to school, so the team that drafted him loses all rights when he went to 4 yr school. He should check with an advisor be fore transfering

But like you said Drafting team loses right's.
Then said player decide's to leave college.
What happen's then?
Does player have to reenter Draft are can he sign a free agent contract?
EH

Said player went to school, who the heck would leave school after a semester and transfer to think that they might get drafted again. He can't just LEAVE, to play somewhere else, especially if he signed an NLI.
Was the player THAT good?
I am not real sure about the purpose of this thread.
Stay in school, work hard at your game, maybe you might get lucky and get drafted, again.

EH/OS8,
I know you are looking at this like the free enterprise system.
It isn't.
If you want to be drafted, you do it according to the rules of MLB and any modifications from the collective bargaining agreement. MLB has an antitrust exemption. They can do things others cannot.
The NCAA is also a monstrosity. Last season, a young man was drafted in the 3rd round and signed for a very nice bonus. Within one week, he knew minor league ball was not for him and wanted his release/void the contract so he could play DI ball.
No luck. He is out of professional ball and out of college ball at the DI level.
Not only is this a valuable thread, it is invaluable. For anyone with a son heading potentially into professional baseball, I recommend learning everything you can because it is "hardball" business for our son's and fairness isn't always the result.
It isn't leave school and become a free agent. Free agents cost MLB more money than drafted players. If this young man leaves school, he sits until he is 21 for the chance to be drafted.
Njbb has a great point. Before heading to a JC, better understand the rules as they relate to draft
The draft rules are not subject to manipulation and this isn't just play ball.