Matzek Update?

Does anyone with more time than I have an update on how the negotiations with Matzak are going? Since the draft register is buried, I'm just curious.

over 2 years ago Prospector 13 comments 0 recs |

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Looks like a longshot to get him signed

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/08/unsigned-draft-picks-update.html

by Business Socks on Aug 3, 2009 10:15 PM MDT reply actions

What does mlbtraderumors know about the situation?

What does Jason Churchill? Really. There’s no information here which should lead to a “longshot” conclusion.

by Rox Girl on Aug 3, 2009 10:22 PM MDT up reply actions

Churchill polled other front office types

so he doesn’t appear to be going off of inside information. I’m sure to anoutsider, his conclusion would be a logical one, but that leaves quite a bit out of the equation… you know, like the Rockies’ front office motives and opinions…

by David OhNo on Aug 3, 2009 11:11 PM MDT up reply actions

Exactly... without insider info, we're left with the exact same knowledge we had on draft day

That other front office types would believe Matzek unsignable just shows why he dropped to number 11 in the draft in the first place, meaning this is exactly what they thought then. Regarding where Matzek is now they would know even less, as there’s no need for any scouts other than the Rockies to be in contact with him.

We haven’t heard a peep out of Oregons athletic department expressing confidence he’s coming, we haven’t heard a thing from the Rockies or murmurs from friends on facebook or twitter that he’s made a decision. It’s all so professionally quiet.

by Rox Girl on Aug 3, 2009 11:26 PM MDT up reply actions

I guess that is what investigative journalism is these days

“murmurs from friends on facebook or twitter” Welcome to the 21st century, huh? That’s just crazy to me, for some reason.

by Yokel on Aug 4, 2009 4:29 AM MDT up reply actions

That's how they've found out the only real news that they have so far,

That he’s been assigned a dorm room (which of course, happens in the summer with every incoming freshman whether they eventually wind up at school or not) because his prospective roommate made a tweet about it.

by Rox Girl on Aug 4, 2009 6:05 AM MDT up reply actions

Didn't I also read that his prospective roommate is likely to go pro?

Or am I making that up?

by holly96 on Aug 4, 2009 1:43 PM MDT up reply actions

Yep, Oregon's baseball team actually seems to be expecting both players to go pro...

The Register-Guard just put up a post confirming that story that Matzek and Jake Marisnick, who was drafted by Toronto will be roommates if they go to Oregon.

by Rox Girl on Aug 4, 2009 2:20 PM MDT up reply actions

Whoa, my bad

Just providing the only link I could find on the situation. Won’t make that mistake again. Sorry, I haven’t been sitting in on the negotiations with Matzak and the Rockies so I have to rely on others who may or may not know what they are talking about for info. Someone asked a question, I tried to give them at least a little direction.

Anyone have a link suggesting we will indeed sign him? What’s the most money we have ever given a draft pick? Is it inline with what Matzak expects to sign for knowing full well he said he wants to hit and pitch and is pretty obviously enamored with Oregon? What signs are there that we will sign him? The NO. 9 pick, Jacob Turner, expects to sign for an above slot value deal of $5 mil. according to the article. How does that effect our possibility of signing Matzak? Not badgering, just curious…. Fill my obviously ill-informed self in.

by Business Socks on Aug 4, 2009 12:14 AM MDT up reply actions

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound harsh toward you...

It was more frustration with the MLBTR article, which was just doing a bad job of parroting the downside, playing up the dorm room assignment as significant (it’s not), without real reason for it, or acknowledging that there’s a lot of reason to be optimistic as well. Goldstein in the same link that says Turner will get $5 million, says 50/50 for Matzek, which is better than a longshot, IMHO. Callis at BA said recently that he believes that the Rockies have the longest odds, but in an ESPN chat said that he thinks every first rounder is more likely to sign than not. I’m going to have to go digging for the link to the chat, I’ll try and find it for you for this afternoon.

Again, if he’s leaning to go to Oregon at this point, there’s no reason to keep that decision quiet, so there’s a lot of hope that can be read into the silence.

by Rox Girl on Aug 4, 2009 6:33 AM MDT up reply actions

Nobody knows about Matzek.

But read this article about Gerrit Cole, who decided to go to college rather than turn pro.

What I want you to take away from this are the method of the process for these high school kids and the keys to his decision:

It was the availability of specialized disability insurance—a little-known benefit sold through the NCAA and open to athletes who, in the governing body’s words, can "realistically anticipate receiving a substantial amount of money as professional athletes"—that tipped the scales.

Meaning that Cole or other elite NCAA athletes can be protected against catastrophic injury while they attend college. What’s interesting though is that they had decided before the Yankees even made an offer.

Matzek’s dad has already indicated that his son could go pro for the right amount, and while some vague “precedent setting” standard was put out there, nothing concrete was really known.

Matzek and his advisers know that draft slotting could be on the table for the next CBA, which would take effect before the next draft if he goes to Oregon. They know that college players don’t typically make as much as high school players in the same draft slot, and that means Matzek would have to have a good chance of being a top five pick in 2011 to get a bigger payday than what the Rockies will be offering him.

Basically, I keep telling people to stop worrying about this. That the quiet is a good thing and we won’t know one way or the other until August 17th.

by Rox Girl on Aug 3, 2009 10:21 PM MDT reply actions

Thanks for the update RG

That’s kind of what I figured. Like I said when posing the question, it was mostly just curiosity.

by Prospector on Aug 4, 2009 7:00 AM MDT up reply actions

He's a young, cocky guy and joining a crappy team probably doesn't thrill him

But he’s not joining a crappy team – we’re a hell of a lot more appealing now than when he was drafted. We’re contending, we’ve got a good base of young talent and a decent farm. We won’t be lumped in with the bottom dwellers for the next few seasons, and this has got to be a big plus for him.

by biondino on Aug 4, 2009 10:45 AM MDT reply actions