I know what it means but what makes one kid more signable than another? I listened to a podcast the other day where they were debating who would go when in the draft (HS) and they mentioned signability. What makes people who don’t know the kids think one is more signable than another? When they ask questions about parents jobs, etc., what are they looking for in that? Well off means more or less signable? Struggling financially, more or less signable?
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For starters, MLB teams (scouts) know sign-ability because they ask. As far as sports writers? Probably where they see the player slotted. If they see a kid going in the first round they can assume there is a high chance the kid will sign simply due to $$$. But they also know a few other things:
1. Player has committed to college to play another sport (football)
2. Player has already stated publicly he wants to attend college first.
3. Player's medical status may be questioned and that may cause slot to drop. (MLB scouts would know this although sports writers perhaps not as they are not privy to the medical reports interested teams have requested)
4. Player's academic performance. Could be very low and may struggle in college or very high and may be committed to an academic school.
If a kid is from a rough area and needs the money will be more likely to sign and skip college, especially when he has to pay for it. Buying mom a car and a house sounds better than taking out a loan to pay for school.
A Duke, Vandy, Stanford commit is likely thinking about the education just as much as the baseball. A kid committed to a school with a 94% acceptance rate and a 2.4 is likely only there to play baseball. Can 200k get him to walk away from his commitment? Works the other way as well. It's going to take a lot of money to get a pitcher to walk away from Vanderbilt or UF knowing the track record they have of developing guys, the quality of the education, discounted tuition, etc.
The writes who are in the know have a better idea, but the guys with fan blogs and news reporters really don't know anymore than Joe CasualFan.
When they ask the questions they want to know what it's like at home. Tough financial situation, better for the clubs. Country club membership and private school - decision will likely go deeper than "how much".
Anyone is signable, it is just about whether the number the player is looking for and the value teams put on that player align.
Pro teams have all the data that backs up what is signable. They can look at the family situation and ask the right questions to the player and parents and get a good feel for whether the play is signable for what slot. When teams reached out to both of my lefties out of high school they got an answer that I think made my sons unsignable for the slot they were going to fall in. This year, I think it is not only the slot but if they only go 5 rounds the difference is whether a 6th rounder will sign for $20,000 or go back to college or go to college. Will they gamble that their stock will go up or are tired of school and/or not willing to pay out of pocket for another year for some. The good scouts and the upper guys know when a kid is signable and are pretty close on what round they will fall in. I think this year makes it easier for scouts and management guys if they only go 5 rounds because now you don't have to decide if a guy is 6th round or 10th round guy. If they go 10, it gets real easy after that.
I find it all odd/interesting. I'm trying to figure out the logic to what they ask and what answer makes them think one way or another. It's obviously not their first rode, but I don't understand the methods. The podcast I heard the other day, they each listed a player from our state that they thought would go based on signability and they mentioned by son. They don't know him, so I don't know what it is based on. Just a guess? I also think it's odd that a scout sent him a text this week that was nothing baseball related, but about our jobs and how long we've been at them. Obviously, he just answered, as they are straight forward questions, but not sure what they take from that info.