"I wanted to take it," Esposito told the New Haven Register, referring to the Royals' offer of a...

"I wanted to take it," Esposito told the New Haven Register, referring to the Royals' offer of a $1.5 million signing bonus. "But then emotions settled down and you put things in perspective. Do I want to go off and play professional baseball at 17 years old? This is the best possible situation. It will benefit me in the long run."

Apparently the Royals 7th round draft pick has decided to attend Vanderbilt after all. Hard to imagine that he'd turn down a huge offer like that (WAY over slot), but I guess he has

about 1 year ago NYRoyal 27 comments 0 recs |

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Dear lord

That is an awful lot of money for a guy that wasn’t considered a first round pick. AND HE TURNED IT DOWN! Does show the Royals are serious about signing guys. Gotta think Melville getting signed is a foregone conclusion if they’re waving around that kinda cash.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jun 16, 2008 1:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't call it foregone,

but I am optimistic we can get him signed if we’re willing to go this far over slot money. This is exactly the type of offer I was hoping to see the Royals making to their draft picks…that this guy didn’t sign hardly puts a damper on my optimism. It’s just so good to see the organization willing to show the kids the money.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jun 16, 2008 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I were Melville (and his parents and their advisor)

...and I saw that the Royals were offering $1.5M to a 7th rounder, my asking price would immediately go up to $2.5M.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 16, 2008 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point

I’m also curious why we took Esposito, when we could have had OF Isaac Galloway, who many considered a 1st/2nd round talent, and told teams he was available for $200k. He just signed for $250k, taken in the seventh round. I guess they really wanted a shortstop.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jun 16, 2008 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's something about Galloway that a lot of teams didn't like

There’s some reason he fell all the way to the 7th round. I can’t tell you what it is.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 16, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bad nickname potential

also, possibly problematic injury bloodlines (Mengeleball!) due to possible connection to oft-injured WR Joey Galloway.

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Jun 16, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

By that rationale

There’s something a lot of teams didn’t like about Esposito too.

I think for both, it was signability.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jun 16, 2008 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clearly Esposito had negatives too

But, if Retro is correct when he said that Galloway “told teams he was available for $200K” then I don’t think he had a signability issue.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 16, 2008 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is an amazing decision for this kid

What are the odds that he ever makes $1M playing baseball now? Maybe he and his parents didn’t think that he was emotionally/psychologically/chronologically ready for it yet.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 16, 2008 2:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I've read

He didn’t feel like he was ready for the pros. He may not need the money that badly either.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jun 16, 2008 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What is wrong with kids today?

College over money? There is a crisis in the house of America. When will professional sports ever catch a break from those greedy universities?

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Jun 16, 2008 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I Thought

For a split second he’s going to school for an education, I’d agree with your sarcasm.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Jun 16, 2008 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

normally thats true

but vandy is a little bit different than your standard football factories elsewhere.

by ZeppelinDZ on Jun 16, 2008 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vandy and Stanford

are typically very tough to pry kids away from, and I don’t think it’s just a coincidence. They have great baseball programs but are also world-class universities. A ball player basically gets to have his cake and eat it too.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jun 16, 2008 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

(Mostly) joking around

Overall, though, it’s hard to walk away from the money, and I can see both sides of it, but recently I’ve started thinking that I can’t blame kids for not wanting to give up a few more relatively carefree years and stuff, that’s all. And if he isn’t sure he should do it, I think this is probably the best choice for all parties—can hardly blame him for that.

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Jun 16, 2008 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Parents probably are loaded up

, kid is from Conn. and the kid is going to Vandy to play baseball not exactly a cheap education.

Billy at worst will be Sean Casey jr.

by kcscoliny on Jun 16, 2008 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

But I think he's getting a scholarship to Vandy

But yes, it is quickly likely that the family has some significant money.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 16, 2008 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does he get a full ride though?

Scholarship limitations, does he get the full boat.

Billy at worst will be Sean Casey jr.

by kcscoliny on Jun 16, 2008 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

most baseball scholarships are partial.

So unless he is one of the very few guys that gets a full ride for baseball I think he is also going to a education. Still the Royals still have time to negotiate don’t they? I say raise the offer to 1.75 and then throw in 5 years all expenses paid to Vanderbilt when his baseball career is over, just in case he flames out in 3-4 years.

by TXroyal on Jun 16, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thats another 200k almost with room and board

Billy at worst will be Sean Casey jr.

by kcscoliny on Jun 16, 2008 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Top recruits still get a full-ride

especially at schools with significant funding, such as Vandy, Stanford, and Texas. Esposito is right there with Sonny Gray as the top incoming Vandy recruit (not counting Hewitt as he is going to play pro ball).

Considering that Tim Corbin made a special trip up to Connecticut this past week to convince Esposito and his family to stick with his commitment, I’d say it’s likely he has a full-ride.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jun 16, 2008 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, and I think this guy is a top recruit for them

I bet he is getting a full ride.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 17, 2008 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a gamble

for sure.

1.5 million, let’s say he clears about a million after taxes. Any good investment at all should yield a minimum of 5-10%, so theoretically, even if he bombs completely, he’s set for life with a $50,000 – $100,000 annual revenue without working and without touching the million dollar principal.

They must REALLY think he is not emotionally ready for the pros – and if so, perhaps that means he doesn’t have the mental makeup to succeed in the first place. (Harsh? Yes, but I’m sorry, it at least makes me wonder)

by loyal2sdad on Jun 16, 2008 5:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I have knowledge of the situation

My father coached Jason Esposito for Post 127 American Legion Baseball in Orange, CT. He turned down the money and went to Vanderbilt because he wasn’t quite ready for the professional baseball life.

I understand that he’s turning down money - and it’s a lot of money - but he wanted the college experience as well as some seasoning at Vanderbilt. The kid has tremendous mental makeup and will be drafted once eligible again.

by stlcardinals on Jun 16, 2008 9:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nice info

by I need more Esteban on Jun 16, 2008 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Might seem like a preposterous question

But why – exactly – do players remain draft eligible if they are going to choose school, anyway? I understand all the rational retorts – they want their value to increase, they want to get over slot, etc….but still…..they could simply bow out of the draft several weeks beforehand and save teams the trouble of wasting an entire draft pick. Maybe I’m bitter. Moves like these seem so selfish.

The Nation at large.

by Royals Nation on Jun 17, 2008 5:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just because he had picked a school didn't mean that he wasn't considering pro ball

HS players need to have a fallback plan in case they don’t get drafted or in case they get drafted late and are offered on a small signing bonus. Many players would like to go to college, but are willing to go pro for the right amount of money.

The problem with what Esposito did is that from what I’ve read, the Royals talked to him and his family on the night of draft day one and they gave a ballpark figure for what it would take to sign him. Then the Royals drafted him and offered him a bonus in that ballpark…and then he turned it down. So basically they said he’d sign for X, the Royals offered X and then they decided they’d rather go to school. That’s a pretty shitty way to screw over the Royals.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 17, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs