Harper/Machado

[E Burg Os]

Per Ben Goessling of masnsports.com

Bryce Harper posted this status on his Facebook page earlier this week:

Probably going back to CSN to try to win a National Championship!!!

And the first comments? Why, those would be from Manny Machado, the high school shortstop the Orioles took No. 3 overall in the draft, saying that he, too, would be interested in joining Harper at the College of Southern Nevada next year.

Two of the top three picks in the draft, pulling a LeBron-and-Chris and taking their talents to Las Vegas? And they're saying this three weeks before the signing deadline?

Any chance these guys have something in common, besides playing for the U.S. National Under-18 team - like maybe a representative?

Didn't see this posted, but I thought it was interesting. Take it for what it's worth.

http://www.masnsports.com/the_goessling_game/2010/07/bryce-harpers-facebook-ploy.html

[eb45]

RVAbird: Machado facebook is a "don't care"

[Moose Milligan]

Haha, we had a good thread about this a few days ago. No worries, E burg, you didn't know.

Ahhh, kids these days.

[E Burg Os]

Ahhh okay, my bad. At least it doesn't seem to be a big concern.

[Moose Milligan]

Ahhh okay, my bad. At least it doesn't seem to be a big concern.

It was actually funny. A certain poster (can't remember who) friended Machado on facebook and posted that conversation on here.

As far as a big concern, I dunno. I mean, if he took the time to type that, it's crossed his mind...he's considered it a possibility.

Now, money talks. We'll see.

[E Burg Os]

It was actually funny. A certain poster (can't remember who) friended Machado on facebook and posted that conversation on here.

As far as a big concern, I dunno. I mean, if he took the time to type that, it's crossed his mind...he's considered it a possibility.

Now, money talks. We'll see.

Oh wow haha, going right to the source. I mean at that age, I can understand keeping your options open. But when you're getting a ton of money thrown at you, I dunno, that's pretty tough to turn down. Especially with the risk of getting injured while playing at school. Maybe it'll be a similar situation to that of Givens last year.

[allstar1579]

Negotiating ploy. They both have the flexibility to go back to school, everyone knows it, but a team really has to believe that they will in order to pay them more. Of course they wouldn't say, oh, I can't wait to sign and start playing, that would just give away money.

[Moose Milligan]

Oh wow haha, going right to the source. I mean at that age, I can understand keeping your options open. But when you're getting a ton of money thrown at you, I dunno, that's pretty tough to turn down. Especially with the risk of getting injured while playing at school. Maybe it'll be a similar situation to that of Givens last year.

I hate to say it, but I'm not necessarily sure kids think that way. Someone like Machado has probably had everyone kissing his ass for a year or two now and thinking that he can do no wrong.

Think back to when you were 17/18, probably thought you were invincible...I know I did. Might hear people say "take the money, you can get injured in college and never make it" and think that it just doesn't apply to them. The ego boost of having a bunch of money coming your way...you think you can probably make it happen again.

I'm not saying that's what Machado thinks, I obviously have no idea...but kids are dumb. You never know.

[allstar1579]

I hate to say it, but I'm not necessarily sure kids think that way. Someone like Machado has probably had everyone kissing his ass for a year or two now and thinking that he can do no wrong.

Think back to when you were 17/18, probably thought you were invincible...I know I did. Might hear people say "take the money, you can get injured in college and never make it" and think that it just doesn't apply to them. The ego boost of having a bunch of money coming your way...you think you can probably make it happen again.

I'm not saying that's what Machado thinks, I obviously have no idea...but kids are dumb. You never know.

There's really no where else to go when you are a top 3 pick. You could come out any year and go from 1-5 depending on other available talent. I've said a few times I don't think I'd take Machado top 5 next year. The risk is all the player's going back into the draft when he's already that high of a pick.

[adamwolff11]

Turning down millions of dollars to try to win a JuCo championship?

That'd be like turning down a Harvard scholarship because McDonalds put you on the fast track to management.

[epic]

Makes no sense for Machado to go back into the draft. Being the #3 overall pick, this is about the most amount of money he's going to get. He won't be drafted higher the next year after not signing along with next years class being a better one than this years. I'm sure both Machado and his agent are aware of this.

He'll sign.

[Moose Milligan]

There's really no where else to go when you are a top 3 pick. You could come out any year and go from 1-5 depending on other available talent. I've said a few times I don't think I'd take Machado top 5 next year. The risk is all the player's going back into the draft when he's already that high of a pick.

I'm just playing devils advocate. He'd be a idiot not to take the money right now.

But then look at Crow.

IIRC there was a pitcher who was drafted in the 1st round 3 times and didn't sign every time. Can't remember who it was but it was on sportscenter a couple years ago. He eventually signed but of course he turned out to be awful, which isn't a surprise. It was fairly recent, too...sometime in this decade.

So it's not like it's unprecedented.

EDIT: This guy: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=090423/harrington And he wasn't picked in the first round 3 times...but he was dumb enough not to take that first offer.

[Stotle]

There's really no where else to go when you are a top 3 pick. You could come out any year and go from 1-5 depending on other available talent. I've said a few times I don't think I'd take Machado top 5 next year. The risk is all the player's going back into the draft when he's already that high of a pick.

This is true and untrue. True in that there are few slots ahead of you at three. Untrue in that it's absolutely possible that Team A drafting you at three could be willing to pay you less than Team B drafting you at three, four or five.

[allstar1579]

This is true and untrue. True in that there are few slots ahead of you at three. Untrue in that it's absolutely possible that Team A drafting you at three could be willing to pay you less than Team B drafting you at three, four or five.

Ok, good point. Wasn't really thinking about the individual team valuation. I tend to think of the draft like a hard slot sometimes. My bad.

[Stotle]

Ok, good point. Wasn't really thinking about the individual team valuation. I tend to think of the draft like a hard slot sometimes. My bad.

Please, no worries. I honestly just worked it out for myself recently when thinking about advisory strategies. Essentially, "I may not be drafted higher than 3, but I'm pretty confident someone will be willing to pay me more than the $4MM you are offering." Not sold on it being a good approach, but I could see possibility in formulating a strategy that includes this as a walk-away card.