The Orioles have made "significant progress" in negotiations with first-round draft pick Kevin Gausman and a "deal seems likely" before tomorrow's signing deadline, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
It was just three days ago that Gausman seemed to be leaning towards pitching for LSU, though the O's increased their contract offer in the interim. Baltimore's previous offer that was "close" to the $4.2MM recommended slot bonus for the fourth overall pick, while Gausman and his reprentatives were known to be looking for a bonus of slightly beyond $4.2MM. The two sides have until 4 PM CST on Friday to complete an agreement.
I can see it now, the ” Gausman Decision”. Gausman will proclaim “I’m gonna take my talents to Charm City!” When it happens, I will believe it.
Also, Gausman better be wearing an “I Love Baltimore Shirt.”
Thumbing his nose at us “lowly O’s fans and management” and getting away with it, tsk tsk.
If, by “thumbing his nose at us” you really mean “using standard negotiation tactics to get the best deal possible,” then yes.
I’m not a lowly O’s fan. I’m a proud O’s fan, and I realize that this was all posturing and negotiations. I don’t take any personal offense to it at all.
I found it quite amusing to see people come out the past few days and say that they thought Gausman wasn’t really all that and a bag of chips anyway, just because it looked for a bit like he wouldn’t sign.
I still think he needs to add another pitch to be a major leaguer but I knew he was going to sign. I don’t understand why negotiations don’t start at slot for top players and cut out all this posturing.
Because none of the top players (except Almora) this year got slot. The closest one was Zunino.
Funny how some extra cash can make one lean the other way and want to leave college…….since that is where his heart is.
The GEICO gecko says that home is where the savings is.
Pretty smart maneuvering by Gausman (or his agent). Who needs a college degree when you’ve got skills like that?
His agent has a college degree, so I’d assume his agent is the answer?
If it was Gausman’s call, smart dude, no need for degree. If it was the agent, smart agent. For the athletically inept, stay in school, kids!
Assuming they’re not Allen Iverson, I always wonder how long a player can make multimillions last if it ends up being the only payday of their career.
I get that but my understanding is that the Orioles have just recently made an offer that was close to the slot. So why bother with starting well below slot for a Top 4 draft pick? Maybe the O’s aren’t in a hurry to sign him to save some wear and tear on his arm? The whole process is just silly to me since there is a slot amount and they play this game up to the deadline every year.
Do you think the O’s wanted to pay under slot so they could pay over slot for their 5th rounder Poche? I think gausman camp may have known this and held out trying to get some of that money for their guy.