Help me find thread about signing money

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I'd also PM TPM...she has some good insights...

44
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Thanks to O44 and to another poster who PM'd me. Will pass on any info I learn ....

I am too tired to look for the link.

I think that the player and his family need to look at last year's bonus' (first 10 rounds is available on PGcrosschecker and Baseball America, might be for a cost). A player needs to decide what it would take in $$ to go pro. The amount you see in signing bonus does not reflect federal taxes, state taxes, medicare and social security, or agency fees if they sign with an agent who has been advising the player before the draft. All teams are required by the IRS to take 25% (unless the bonus is under a certain amount) off the top. Any adjustments are made when one files taxes.

Do understand that whatever a player earns in season is usually gone by the end of season. Even though his room was free, mine ate most of his salary. For son, eating well is very important. If you need to cover car payments, insurance, cell phone bill, etc. with that money, it won't work unless you want to eat at McDonald's everyday. If you have gotten some decent money for signing, I feel it is important to put as much as you can away into savings and learn to live on a budget, perhaps a players parents are still willing to help if necessary. Many players work in the off season to help supplement their needs so they do not spend their signing bonus. I would imagine having some college experience or a degree, can make you more money than just out of HS.

I am not sure whatinfo you are looking for to pass on.

IMO, it's a personal preference. Just as important as getting a $$ bonus, the player needs to understand the system and how many years one may be in that system making the same salary.

Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Life changing money.

Don't sell yourself short.

There is a tremendous value to being an 18 year old on a college campus. Education, social life, and baseball.

How much would it take to forego those experiences?

One can assume every young man wants his crack at pro baseball. If you want to, choose a draft year, maybe 5 years ago, and do a where are they now ?

You may get some answers. Some are in MLB, some are in MILB, most are out of baseball. Did they go back to college ?

If a kid doesn't like school, then things change when dealing with the process.

Good, helpful comments. I will pass these on.

quote:

Originally posted by OLDSLUGGER8:

There is a tremendous value to being an 18 year old on a college campus. Education, social life, and baseball.

I think that a hs player should want nothing else but to go pro out of high school.. If there is any question whether he should go to college or pro he should go to college. Pro life is hard out of high school. There should be no doubt that this is what you want.

quote:

Originally posted by njbb:
I think that a hs player should want nothing else but to go pro out of high school.. If there is any question whether he should go to college or pro he should go to college. Pro life is hard out of high school. There should be no doubt that this is what you want.

not for a bag of peanuts

Assume you invested in a Rolex watch. Which one is easier to throw away, the new Rolex or the cheap one you just replaced ?

I want to re write what I wrote.....If a players decides to go pro out of high school its because he doesn't want to do anything else. If there is any question whether he should go to college or pro,he should go to college.Pro life is hard out of of high school. There should be no doubt that is what you want.

Slugger8,
You don't throw the baby out with the bath water. If your a prospect in your organization they don't release you because of your signing bonus.and you don't get to the bigs just because you got a bonus

It has been written, discussed, and mentioned many times. The more $$ they have invested in you, the more chances and opportunities are granted.

College baseball players basically get 8 weeks off. They get 4 weeks between semesters, and are required to continue their workouts off campus.

They get 4 weeks off between the end of summer ball and the start of Fall practice, but many workout or play to stay sharp to either retain or win a position.

You said "If a players decides to go pro out of high school its because he doesn't want to do anything else"

I read that as because he doesn't want to do anything else but play baseball.

The college player apparently plays 12 months straight in some form or fashion, so I guess they want to play baseball too.



So go to MILB for a cup of coffee. If after 2 years they toss you aside, then answer us this:

What you gonna do next ?

The following URLs aren't really responsive to Infield08's question, but they are perhaps useful. The first is a link to an excerpt of Bo Durkac's book. The excerpt speaks of the trade-offs of signing vs transferring from JC to 4 year college or staying for the senior year of college. I believe the book also talks about the trade-offs for a player coming out of high school, but that mostly isn't excerpted.

Bo Durkac--How to become a professional baseball player

The following link advocates a rule of thumb that the signing bonus for a HS player should exceed the sum of the value of 4 years of college plus one year's MLB minimum salary. I don't understand the rationale for that rule, but it does highlight the notion that a player who can command a high signing bonus can probably also command a free high end college education, and that college education costs a lot of money. I wonder if the typical contract that "pays for college after baseball" would cover the cost of attending a high end school?
Stuart Nachbar

"what you gonna do next?" Go to college,trade school, start a business,farm.
What if you flunk out of college what you gonna do next?
I find your statement "Unless a kid is a box of rocks,then pro ball out of high school should include $$$$ of significance," insulting.
Making a decision that YOU wouldn't make does not make someone stupid or their decision foolish.

Its not about the $ Its about being ready for pro life.
It doesn't matter if you sign for $ or $$$$ if there is any doubt in your mind about going pro then you better go to college. Life in the minors is hard for a kid out of high school.

quote:

Originally posted by 3FingeredGlove:

The following link advocates a rule of thumb that the signing bonus for a HS player should exceed the sum of the value of 4 years of college plus one year's MLB minimum salary.
Stuart Nachbar

Other than the HARD costs of attendance at a University, there is a value that needs to be assigned for the benefit to forego the college total experience, and that according to ECON 101 is the "opportunity cost".

I learned that in high school and PUBLIC college, not the IVY's.

It is a different assigned value unique to each individual. For some, it may be $5 million, and others, a bus ticket to the MILB assignment.

I saw a tape of Scott Boras talking to the Texas Aggie baseball team. He claimed that only 6% of the juniors in college who get drafted & signed, ever finish college. Geez, what are they they gonna do?

quote:

Originally posted by Infield08:
A friend's son is a talented '08 pitcher who is trying to decide whether to play college ball or go pro. I seem to recall a thread (or perhaps an article?) that talks about how fast signing money can dwindle, once taxes have been paid and funds are used to supplement a player's meager minor league salary (assuming he's not taken in the first 2 rounds). Can anyone provide a link for me to pass on? Thanks!

Its good to speculate but theres no choice unless he is draft

quote:

Its good to speculate but there's no choice unless he is drafted

True. However, it's very probable that this player will be drafted and it's helpful to read everyone's perspectives in advance of it happening. I'm sure these HSBBW comments will facilitate some productive dialogue betweeen the parents and the son.

infield08,
There are many players who probably could or should have been drafted but aren't. No one knows what is going to happen until draft day.

IMO, a lot depends on the players performance this spring and his signability (willingness to commit to going pro vs. going to college).

quote:

It has been written, discussed, and mentioned many times. The more $$ they have invested in you, the more chances and opportunities are granted

Again, the more chances you get to fail. If you have tools and talent you will get just as many chances to succeed no matter what the bonus is.

So many loose site of the fact that 85% of the drafted players are drafted so the prospects have someone to play with and against. Everyone is not a top round draft pick and then others have not developed their abilities.

If you can play you will play no matter the bonus. But it always boils down to 3 things. SKILL, GAME AWARENESS, MAKEUP.

On another note. I found it interesting that College Baseball coaches met with Pro Baseball and said that Agents are becoming a real issue. They mentioned that agents and players/ families are becoming so close that it is even affecting the college coaches and how they run their programs.

The NCAA has agreed to step in as long as college coaches and pro people will make them aware of situations.

Better beware of having an "advisor" the % of players loosing elgibility will be greater.

quote:

Originally posted by swingbuilder:


If you can play you will play no matter the bonus. But it always boils down to 3 things. SKILL, GAME AWARENESS, MAKEUP.

AGREE

A former MLB player said this in an article.

"I've always been in favor of players getting all they can. Sure, the money is great, but that big bonus also forces an organization to give a high pick every opportunity to succeed. It doesn't mean he will, of course. "