RJ Anderson mulls future over...

[sdgukhsdgl]

where did you find a kid getting 1mill as a signing bonus in the 10th?  The average for first rounders last year was "only" 1.8mill I believe

[Ricky the Bull]

Not sure about the contract amount he would expect, but the signing bonus last year for a 9th rounder is in the $60-70k range.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draftdb/xrnd.php?rnd=9

Apparently, it's quite a game a prospect has to play.  Here's a reply from the Baseball Examiner web site to an inquiry from a dad about his son, who would probably be a late round pick:

As you would see, almost no players drafted after the 10th round receive any kind of signing bonus. The only ones who are signed past the 10th round are players who have top-round talent but slipped to later rounds in the draft due to either injury concerns or extravagant bonus demands that teams didn't want to pay, so they draft them late and try to talk them down. If the team isn't able to talk them down, well, then they only wasted a late round pick instead of wasting an early round pick on a player they couldn't sign.

If the scouts see your son as a possible pick in the first 10 rounds, they may want to know what round he's willing to sign in based on how much he's willing to sign for. For example, if your son says he won't sign for anything less than $100,000, then they better see him as no worse than a 6th or 7th round value or they might not draft him at all because they've been scared off that he won't sign for anything less than $100,000.

It's possible that if the scouts see him as a potential 15th or 20th round pick, then they want to know if he's willing to sign without receiving any bonus money at all. If your son demands money and they don't see him as a potential pick in the first 10 rounds, he may not get drafted at all.

Another thing scouts have to take into account is how serious a player may be to a college commitment. A player could say something like "If you don't sign me for ($X amount), then I'm going to college." If the scout thinks that the kid is not worth the signing bonus demand, he probably will be passed over for other kids who will be willing to sign for less or nothing.

Some kids drafted in later rounds (with no signing bonus) may choose college over signing a professional contract. Others may be willing to sign a professional contract for no bonus. These are the kinds of things that scouts are trying to get answered. These are also the questions you and your son need to consider.

http://www.baseballexaminer.com/ReaderForum/texasfather.htm

[Brad]

From Baseball America July/2004:

When I unveiled the bonus records by draft round in the last Ask BA, I let a couple of draft-and-follows slip through the cracks. Righthander Luis Cota signed for $1.05 million in May after the Royals took him in the 10th round in 2003. Thanks to David Smith, Cota's pitching coach at South Mountain (Ariz.) CC, for pointing that one out.

Highest Draft Bonuses By Round

Round Player, Pos, Team Year Bonus

1st Joe Borchard, of, White Sox 2000 $5,300,000

Supp. 1st Michael Garciaparra, ss, Mariners 2001 $2,000,000

2nd Jason Young, rhp, Rockies 2000 $2,750,000

3rd Matt Tuiasosopo, ss, Mariners 2004 $2,290,000

4th Zach Miner, rhp, Braves 2000 $1,250,000

5th Matt McClendon, rhp, Braves 1999 $900,000

6th Quan Cosby, of, Angels 2001 $825,000

7th Tyler Adamczyk, rhp, Cardinals 2001 $1,000,000

8th Kyle Bono, rhp, Red Sox 2004 $432,000

9th Jason Middlebrook, rhp, Padres 1996 $750,000

10th Luis Cota, rhp, Royals* 2003 $1,050,000

*Signed following year as draft-and-follow.

Yes the average is between 60,000 and 70,000 but their have been anomalies.

[Papa_Bull]

A USF scholarship is worth $100,000+.

I'd be very surprised to see Anderson get over $75,000 as a signing bonus.

[bullpen1]

I don't think RJ will be one of those anomalies, all of the top bonuses for rounds 7-10 on that list are pitchers.  His college education will probably be worth more than his bonus.  Hopefully he makes the right decision.

[Papa_Bull]

This was reported in the Oracle, but who knows if it is accurate:

USF football recruit RJ Anderson was also drafted on Tuesday in the ninth round with the 279th overall pick by the Texas Rangers. The Armwood standout cornerback was part of the amazing back-to-back Class 4A State Champion teams, and the 5-foot-11 Tampa native runs a 6.1-second 60-yard dash. He must now decide on whether to come to USF to play both football and baseball or sign with the Rangers, who have reported offering a $150,000 to $250,000 signing bonus. Anderson led Armwood's baseball team in batting with a .384 and had seven home runs and 32 RBI.

http://www.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/uwire/060905aaj.html

[Omniscientbull]

There is no decision to be made.  If he can get a $200K signing bonus and get them to guarantee college tuition after his career (without grade stipulations such as only paying for B's or better) then he'll definately go the baseball route.

[No_Willie_Jokes_Yet]

There is no decision to be made.  If he can get a $200K signing bonus and get them to guarantee college tuition after his career (without grade stipulations such as only paying for B's or better) then he'll definately go the baseball route.

That or if he has a football scholarship to fall back on. He has nothing to lose taking the 200K and playing b-ball. He can always return to school free to play football.

[bullpen1]

The Oracle - I wouldn't believe anything they say about USF Athletics in that rag.

[bulls96go]

5th to 9th round

maybe he overestimates his value in baseball!

unless he 'needs' the money he should go to college

play bball a chance to increase his value

play football a chance to see value in another sport grow.