My son didn't have an adviser when he was drafted, he signed with his agent after his 1st pro season.
If an agent has pro clients then he has the connection to find out what players are on the clubs radar.
iheartbb,
What I found in HS is that advisors don't like scouts and scouts don't like advisors. In college most scouts don't have to deal with mom and dad in speaking for the player. Most of the time, they don't even talk to the player, just come and watch, chitchat during warm up, etc. The player is now grown, used to living on their own and they don't have to answer mom and dad questions. We talked to only one scout when son was in college, and that was because they lost his phone number.
I think what OPP meant is that there are certain ways to answer certain questions, obvious ones. Like do you want to play pro ball, how much will it take you to sign, etc. Those questions may need to be answered in a certain way. Some advisors prefer you not to talk money but rounds, etc.
I missed somethings that are very important. A good advisor should educate you as to what slot money means and give you comparison charts as to the rounds so one can understand that if you are drafted in a certain place, unless you slipped for signability or fell farther than anticipated, what you may get as a bonus in the round he is projected. The amount varies whether the player is coming out of HS vs. college and HS players will usually get more to sign. For example in sons slot this year the player was out of HS and therefore his bonus was higher for that slot than sons was the year before. HS players drafted early always can command more than a player with little eligibility left. MLB wants teams to stay within slot for the first 10 rounds, after the 10th round the team can pay more or less what they want. Most of the time it's more what they want. This year the bonus' were up, in 2007 they were down. It's crazy stuff.
A good advisor has contacts (this may be where that fine line in the sand is drawn) to let you know where your player might fall on a teams draft board that day. He might give you 10,more or less teams that are interested in you. Do know that many times, teams make a call right before you are drafted to ask if you will accept x amount of dollars to sign. If your player says yes, he has more or less agreed to that amount, if he doesn't get a call, then he has evey right to negotiate an amount. Slot takes away that negotiating power. Most teams won't call. Most teams want and expect you to sign if drafted in the first 10 rounds. That's where how to answer those questions come in.
These things make an advisor most helpful in the process.
What I found in HS is that advisors don't like scouts and scouts don't like advisors. In college most scouts don't have to deal with mom and dad in speaking for the player. Most of the time, they don't even talk to the player, just come and watch, chitchat during warm up, etc. The player is now grown, used to living on their own and they don't have to answer mom and dad questions. We talked to only one scout when son was in college, and that was because they lost his phone number.
I think what OPP meant is that there are certain ways to answer certain questions, obvious ones. Like do you want to play pro ball, how much will it take you to sign, etc. Those questions may need to be answered in a certain way. Some advisors prefer you not to talk money but rounds, etc.
I missed somethings that are very important. A good advisor should educate you as to what slot money means and give you comparison charts as to the rounds so one can understand that if you are drafted in a certain place, unless you slipped for signability or fell farther than anticipated, what you may get as a bonus in the round he is projected. The amount varies whether the player is coming out of HS vs. college and HS players will usually get more to sign. For example in sons slot this year the player was out of HS and therefore his bonus was higher for that slot than sons was the year before. HS players drafted early always can command more than a player with little eligibility left. MLB wants teams to stay within slot for the first 10 rounds, after the 10th round the team can pay more or less what they want. Most of the time it's more what they want. This year the bonus' were up, in 2007 they were down. It's crazy stuff.
A good advisor has contacts (this may be where that fine line in the sand is drawn) to let you know where your player might fall on a teams draft board that day. He might give you 10,more or less teams that are interested in you. Do know that many times, teams make a call right before you are drafted to ask if you will accept x amount of dollars to sign. If your player says yes, he has more or less agreed to that amount, if he doesn't get a call, then he has evey right to negotiate an amount. Slot takes away that negotiating power. Most teams won't call. Most teams want and expect you to sign if drafted in the first 10 rounds. That's where how to answer those questions come in.
These things make an advisor most helpful in the process.
How much significance should be attached to an advisor's location? I ask because in son's case a location anywhere but the west coast or HI could present problems for travel.
quote:Originally posted by spizzlepop:
How much significance should be attached to an advisor's location? I ask because in son's case a location anywhere but the west coast or HI could present problems for travel.
Great question. . .!!!
Be advised that there are Academic Advisors who get 2 to 3 grand for their services---I have dealt with them in conjunction of a number of our players over the years--- and they can be "hired"
Spizzlepop,
The advisor/agent will travel, that's his concern, not yours. Most spend their time on the road and many do target loacal guys only.
I am just not sure why many think because it is their sons draft year they need an advisor.
Academic advisors can be hired. Their expertise is in helping one aquire a scholarship, not sure they have the expertise to advise for a professional career.
The advisor/agent will travel, that's his concern, not yours. Most spend their time on the road and many do target loacal guys only.
I am just not sure why many think because it is their sons draft year they need an advisor.
Academic advisors can be hired. Their expertise is in helping one aquire a scholarship, not sure they have the expertise to advise for a professional career.
Just wondering, when the ML scouts meet personally with the kids at college, is the advisor allowed to be present?
quote:Originally posted by puma1:
Just wondering, when the ML scouts meet personally with the kids at college, is the advisor allowed to be present?
No.
quote:...there are certain ways to answer certain questions, obvious ones. Like do you want to play pro ball, how much will it take you to sign, etc. Those questions may need to be answered in a certain way. Some advisors prefer you not to talk money but rounds, etc.
I missed somethings that are very important. A good advisor should educate you as to what slot money means and give you comparison charts as to the rounds so one can understand that if you are drafted in a certain place, unless you slipped for signability or fell farther than anticipated, what you may get as a bonus in the round he is projected. The amount varies whether the player is coming out of HS vs. college and HS players will usually get more to sign. For example in sons slot this year the player was out of HS and therefore his bonus was higher for that slot than sons was the year before. HS players drafted early always can command more than a player with little eligibility left. MLB wants teams to stay within slot for the first 10 rounds, after the 10th round the team can pay more or less what they want. Most of the time it's more what they want. This year the bonus' were up, in 2007 they were down. It's crazy stuff.
A good advisor has contacts (this may be where that fine line in the sand is drawn) to let you know where your player might fall on a teams draft board that day. He might give you 10,more or less teams that are interested in you. Do know that many times, teams make a call right before you are drafted to ask if you will accept x amount of dollars to sign. If your player says yes, he has more or less agreed to that amount, if he doesn't get a call, then he has evey right to negotiate an amount. Slot takes away that negotiating power. Most teams won't call. Most teams want and expect you to sign if drafted in the first 10 rounds. That's where how to answer those questions come in.
These things make an advisor most helpful in the process.
Seems to me these are all very good reasons to pursue advisement.
quote:I am just not sure why many think because it is their sons draft year they need an advisor.
quote:Originally posted by njbb:
My son didn't have an adviser when he was drafted, he signed with his agent after his 1st pro season.
I gave good examples of a good advisor/agent if one finds the need to have one.
njbb's son didn't have an advisor in HS, my son didn't have one either, though we did interview a few and did get some advice, we never gave any indication to anyone that they would be son's advisor/agent.
An advisor is an agent, if you feel your son may need one that's a personal decision. If many scouts show up first practice and return every game, MANY MLB scouts speak to you or your son, he's ranked high among his peers AND he really wants to play pro ball, by all means get an advisor.
Remember, any advisor helping you through the process, will expect to be your agent if and when you sign.
College players are a bit different, best advice to to speak to the coach, they can offer some good advice as to the need. As the season unfolds, it may be a bit clearer where one might fall in the draft (first day, second day).
quote:Just wondering, when the ML scouts meet personally with the kids at college, is the advisor allowed to be present?
YES. (I disagree with TPM here.) Unless things have changed the advisor is allowed to be present but is NOT allowed to negotiate directly with the MLB representatives. Our advisor was with us during the meetings and would talk to US during the negotiations but would not talk directly to the MLB reps. For instance our advisor would ask US questions (the MLB reps could hear the question) like --- "Ask the scouts if you can take the promised scholarship money as "bonus money" instead of putting it in the MLB college fund" ----- I would turn to the scouts and they would respond to me.
Fungo
I might add that after my son had completed his junior year of college they all talked and negotiated. His agent would talk to MLB and negotiate for my son. My son had decided to turn pro and gave his agent the green light to talk to anyone he wanted to. No rules were broken unless my son decided to return to college and play ball his senior year. If my son had decided to return for his senior year AND the NCAA received a complaint that my son had had an agent negotiating his pro contract then we would have crossed that bridge at that time.
The NCAA restrictions of not allowing the advisor/agent to talk directly to the MLB reps is pretty much ignored by the agents and MLB. They just don't advertise it that they talk. The NCAA has no control over agents and MLB. The only control the NCAA has is over the player and the programs.
Fungo
Fungo
Ahhh, Fungo you are RIGHT! You are THE man! 
And if the NCAA is informed about said infraction it is the players eligibility that is in the wringer
"The ncaa has no control of agents and mlb"
Ask Andy Oliver at Oklahoma State if that is true, he was suspended last year and part of this year for having an agent, and has a hearing coming up to see if he will play at all this season. He would be one of the top college pitchers going into this years draft, you can google his name for all the info. regarding his elgibility.
Ask Andy Oliver at Oklahoma State if that is true, he was suspended last year and part of this year for having an agent, and has a hearing coming up to see if he will play at all this season. He would be one of the top college pitchers going into this years draft, you can google his name for all the info. regarding his elgibility.
