Report: Phillies turn unsigned draft pick in to NCAA for using an agent

[jshep]

One of the NCAA's many silly rules prohibits its athletes from using an agent to negotiate with professional teams, but many do and it is an open secret in baseball. The agents are typically referred to as "advisors." With thousands and sometimes millions of dollars being discussed, having proper counsel is imperative.

 

According to Baseball America's Aaron Fitt, the Phillies turned Oregon State left-hander Ben Wetzler in to the NCAA after he declined to sign as their fifth round pick in last summer's draft and returned to school for his senior season. Here's more:

 

Fitt says the Phillies also tried to turn in sixth rounder Jason Monda, an outfielder/first baseman who declined to sign and returned to Washington State. Fitt adds the team was upset both players didn't sign, so this is all sour grapes.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24449174/report-phillies-turn-unsigned-draft-pick-in-to-ncaa-for-using-an-agent

 

Boy is it a hard call who seems like the bigger bunch of assholes here, the NCAA or the Phillies.

[Brent Maguire]

Haven't heard of anything like this before. Weird.

[Inside Pitch]

Haven't heard of anything like this before. Weird.

 

The White Sox did something somewhat similar with AJ Hinch prior to his going to Stanford.   He chose to go to school instead of taking their offer and they turned him in saying the agent had negotiated directly with the team.  The entire thing was taken up the NCAA but the investigation couldn't prove or disprove anything in part because AJ's  dad has passed away and wasn't able to testify.

[YouthofToday]

Who is the bigger clown, Ruben Amaro or the NCAA?

Tough call but I must go with the NCAA. They are perhaps the most corrupt institution since the Confederacy was finally brought down in the 19th century.

Edited February 20, 2014 by YouthofToday

[Agalloch]

This is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Makes the Phillies seems really whiny.

[Homebrewer]

Abreu is in the Phillies camp and expected to make the team.

I would be pissed if a kid backed out of signing, too.

[laagamer]

Well, I still don't think they should get paid.

 

But why the heck is legal council not allowed? 

[bloodbrother]

This just reeks of the Phillies being vindictive ass holes. Teams just never do this, it's bad form. I don't even know what they were planning to accomplish here? Can't help but think this hurts them with future draftees

 

For the pessimists here...at least the Halos aren't the Phillies.

[Inside Pitch]

This just reeks of the Phillies being vindictive ass holes. Teams just never do this, it's bad form. I don't even know what they were planning to accomplish here? Can't help but think this hurts them with future draftees

 

For the pessimists here...at least the Halos aren't the Phillies.

 

 

You nailed it -- but vindictive assholes is too kind IMO. They are just trying to hurt the kid long term and destroy his chances of getting a better deal.  

[Blarg]

So Reggie Bush didn't do anything wrong and USC shouldn't have been sanctioned?

[Inside Pitch]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/secret-agent-deals-6743/

 

 

Interesting read.  

[Angels Never Die]

So do the Phillies want to ruin their image amongst amateur players?

[Adam]

Wow. The NCAA is deplorable but the Phillies are the bigger dicks in this instance. 

[Blarg]

The Phillies are just following the NCAA rules. It is the kids that are dicks, breaking the rules and jeopardizing the college program.

[nate]

Phillies are taking the Coach K philosophy.

 

He has been known to turn in basketball players that don't sign with Duke if he knows they got impermissible benefits.

[Dave Saltzer]

With the new CBA, the limited funds available to sign draft picks, etc. I kind of expected an organization to try this with some players. With hard caps for total signing pools, which were codified to drive down the cost of drafting and signing players, some teams would get burned and some players would get burned (much like how some pitchers tied to draft pick compensation are getting burned in the Majors this year). It doesn't make the teams right and the players wrong, or vice versa, but I figured some team would try this.

[yk9001]

Football or basketball player use an agent, and the are immediately done with their college careers.

 

 

Say what you want about the whole NCAA sham amateur sham, but why should NCAA baseball be above any other NCAA sport?

[Inside Pitch]

Football or basketball player use an agent, and the are immediately done with their college careers.

 

 

Say what you want about the whole NCAA sham amateur sham, but why should NCAA baseball be above any other NCAA sport?

 

That's because players have to declare for those drafts -- baseball drafts just happen.  In declaring for those drafts the player is forgoing his eligibility.   A player must choose one or the other..

 

NCAA baseball isn't above the others, it's just a different situation. 

Edited February 24, 2014 by Inside Pitch

[Inside Pitch]

With the new CBA, the limited funds available to sign draft picks, etc. I kind of expected an organization to try this with some players. With hard caps for total signing pools, which were codified to drive down the cost of drafting and signing players, some teams would get burned and some players would get burned (much like how some pitchers tied to draft pick compensation are getting burned in the Majors this year). It doesn't make the teams right and the players wrong, or vice versa, but I figured some team would try this.

 

Then MLB needs to follow suit with other sports and make it so a player must declare for the draft Vs just tempting them with riches -- they won't of course because it would mean limiting their talent pool.  What the Phillies did was a total dick move.  They are purposely trying to hurt his draft status and be vindictive

[Blarg]

It"s bullshit but still, if the player is forbidden to hire an agent and does so to negotiate a deal and then backs out, he still violated NCAA rules.

 

The Phillies actually are doing the right thing and notifying the NCAA of a rules violation rather than be an accessory without consequences. Kind of like all the agents that convince college football players to violate rules but are not penalized along with the college.

 

That's because players have to declare for those drafts -- baseball drafts just happen.  In declaring for those drafts the player is forgoing his eligibility.   A player must choose one of the other..

 

NCAA baseball isn't above the others, it's just a different situation. 

Edited February 20, 2014 by Eric Notti

[sneaky_flute]

It's completely unethical to negotiate with a pick you know is represented by an agent and then turn around and rat him out because he refuses to sign with you. It's spiteful, puerile bullshit.  

[Inside Pitch]

It"s bullshit but still, if the player is forbidden to hire an agent and does so to negotiate a deal and then backs out, he still violated NCAA rules.

 

The Phillies actually are doing the right thing and notifying the NCAA of a rules violation rather than be an accessory without consequences. Kind of like all the agents that convince college football players to violate rules but are not penalized along with the college.

 

Players are allowed to get advice and speak to an agent -- the agent just can't negotiate on your behalf..  So an agent doesnt technically need to be hired, if he so much as asks a question for you then you broke the rule.  It's a BS rule that keeps a player from obtaining proper representation.  I understand the point you are making but there is a reason this is so rare, it's one of those situations where both sides have always looked the other way and it's considered common courtesy/practice.

 

While you are right in arguing that they are just following the rules -- they are guilty of being vindictive and to an extent breaking one of those sacred unwritten rules of baseball.  Considering this is the same team that had its ace tag a rookie just because -- it's complete trash.

Edited February 20, 2014 by Inside Pitch

[yk9001]

That's because players have to declare for those drafts -- baseball drafts just happen.  In declaring for those drafts the player is forgoing his eligibility.   A player must choose one of the other..

 

NCAA baseball isn't above the others, it's just a different situation. 

 

 

Got it.  Makes sense, I guess.  Thanks.

[Blarg]

Players are allowed to get advice and speak to an agent -- the agent just can't negotiate on your behalf..  So an agent doesnt technically need to be hired, if he so much as asks a question for you then you broke the rule.  It's a BS rule that keeps a player from obtaining proper representation.  I understand the point you are making but there is a reason this is so rare, it's one of those situations where both sides have always looked the other way and it's considered common courtesy/practice.

 

While you are right in arguing that they are just following the rules -- they are guilty of being vindictive and to an extent breaking one of those sacred unwritten rules of baseball.  Considering this is the same team that had its ace tag a rookie just because -- it's complete trash.

 

Well, I am sure Oregon State would have appreciated them following those unwritten good old boys rules when the NCAA pulls a few scholarships.

 

Everyone should be playing by the same rules, the baseball squads, football, basketball, even Ralymo's Cal Rugby team that is obviously cheating with it's 25 National Championships. And that includes the agents and teams they negotiate with, everyone being up front and honest rather than back room deals that the only losers are the colleges.

 

The NCAA sets up the rules, just following them is the simplest thing for everyone, it only gets complicated when they are sidestepped. Common courtesy does not include lying and making under the table deals.

[Chimi]

How long before the power conferences get together and police themselves and tell the NCAA to screw off?