Luke Hochevar and Scott Boras have got to be on drugs

[alnorth]

From today's Star:

It’s day 40 and counting for the stalled negotiations between the Royals and top draft pick Luke Hochevar, a right-hander represented by Scott Boras.

And while scouting director Deric Ladnier continues to characterize the talks as cordial, he acknowledges Hochevar is on the verge of throwing away a second professional season.

“If he doesn’t get out and pitch,” Ladnier said, “that becomes undeniable at some point. I don’t know what that date is, but there’s no getting around that.”

The minor-league seasons conclude roughly around Labor Day, which leaves about seven weeks, but Hochevar is likely to require a conditioning period once he signs before entering active duty.

Hochevar, 22, re-entered this year’s draft after failing to reach agreement last year with the Dodgers. He made four starts for the Fort Worth Cats, an independent-league team, before the Royals selected him June 6 with the first overall pick.

Ladnier said the two sides “haven’t talked for a while.” He also said the club has not received a formal response from Boras to a revised offer tendered more than two weeks ago.

Attempts to reach Boras were unsuccessful.

Ladnier declined to comment on growing speculation within the industry suggesting the Royals are holding firm to their financial offer but are willing to sign Hochevar to a major-league contract.

Club officials previously confirmed their offer to be in excess of $4 million, which is more than Boras and Hochevar sought last year from the Dodgers. It would also be the highest bonus given this season to a first-round pick with 26 of the 30 selections already under contract.

Right-hander Greg Reynolds, the second overall pick, received $3.25 million from Colorado.

Hochevar's gamble to sit a year already paid off, the Royals are giving him a pretty damned good offer at 4+ Million AND a major-league contract. What the hell else do they want? The Royals have all the leverage, because if he sits another year, he'd be lucky to get 1 million next year.

Forget the Royals, NO team, from the Yankees to the Devil Rays, should be offering more than what the Royals have offered now. Glass has apparently ponied up the necessary cash to sign a kid who has never proven anything in the minors yet, but unfortunately we drafted an idiot.

[Bowser]

Boras doesn't want his clients in KC. Too "low profile" for his tastes.

[58-4ever]

It seems as if his agent is an idiot also. I always knew Boras was an ass to deal with, but now he's messing with this kid's future for a what is seemingly a small amount of money.

[KChiefs1]

I still don't understand why the Royals would draft a Boras client.

[Bowser]

Here's a list of Boras' clients. Big names and big teams abound.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clients_of_Scott_Boras

[Mr. Laz]

Royals should of had an agreement BEFORE drafting him.

a benefit of having the first pick .... they were just too stupid to take advantage of it.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by Laz

Royals should of had an agreement BEFORE drafting him.

a benefit of having the first pick .... they were just too stupid to take advantage of it.

Why would Boras have ever agreed to that?

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Cochise

Why would Boras have ever agreed to that?

because if he didn't the Royals draft someone else first .... someone who they can get an agreement with and Hochevar loses money by dropping in the draft.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Boras doesn't want his clients in KC. Too "low profile" for his tastes.

Yep. In Boras' perfect world, there would only be teams in New York and Los Angeles, and they'd all be his clients. None of the rest of us matter.

I hope he dies of something slowly and painfully, starting soon.

[banyon]

I think Dayton Moore can still get this done.

[Sure-Oz]

At this point I don't mind the royals playing hardball with borass!! That guy is seriously going to **** up Hochevors career if we dont sign him and he sits another year. I would hate to waste a 1st pick but they are doing the right thing IMO with this punkass borass. Hochevar will be lucky to get anyone willing to take him next year.

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

I still don't understand why the Royals would draft a Boras client.

Put Boras in a fake terrorist bomb vest and paratroop his ass onto an Israeli checkpoint.

[FringeNC]

You have to blame the Royals on this. You don't draft a guy like that without a contract in place.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

You have to blame the Royals on this. You don't draft a guy like that without a contract in place.

Or at least be in the same ballpark. Boreass wants ARod type money for a kid that really has not proven anything. It was a typical stupid wasted pick for the Royals, who continue to show why they are the worst managed team in the league.

[Halfcan]

I would start dropping the offer by $750,000 every week until this moron signs. Who would draft him a third time-its pretty obvious the kid is all about money. He looks to cash in before he blows his arm out from not pitching for so long.