But I think it is important to point out that KC was granted an extension for Hosmer; however, according to DK the players union was consulted before the extension and approved the extension. Thus I don’t see Hosmer’s contract being voided by all this stuff. I definitely hate Boras now. Alvarez and his family sound like idiots for going along with this too. He will cost himself money by going into the draft next year. He has a $6 million dollar contract with Pittsburgh if he wants it. $6 million dollars. That is so much money for normal human beings (not Boras, who probably craps in a gold-plated toilet). I don’t see why a person would jeopardize a basically guaranteed $6 million dollars like this. BTW, if you haven’t already looked at this, it is funny:

www.thebrushback.com/scottboras_full.htm

If other teams consulted the union about the extension and we did not, then it could be construed as negligence on our part. Whereas if we were basically doing the exact same procedure as the other teams then I don’t think we could be singled out.

.328/.369/.451 as a gold glove-calibur centerfielder.

The reason the majority of his teammates also hit really well is because they’re either minor league veterans (Majeweski), guys on hot-streaks (Whittleman, maybe) or good-great prospects themselves (Tracy, Vallejo and Elvis Andrus)

Are you saying a 23 year-old gold-glove caliber centerfielder who could be in the ML by next July would not go in the 1st round?

If Option 3 happens, then Boras will get what he ultimately wants. Pedro Alvarez will get what he probably wants, which is his current agreement. The Pirates will eventually get what they want, which is Alvarez playing in the Fall. The only loser would be MLB which loses it’s deadline that it likes so much.

If this is Boras’ ultimate goal, then it’s actually a smart move even though we hate it. He could only pull this stunt with Alvarez, assuming it’s true that an extension for Hosmer was granted.

If Option 3 happens, then Boras will get what he ultimately wants. Pedro Alvarez will get what he probably wants, which is his current agreement. The Pirates will eventually get what they want, which is Alvarez playing in the Fall. The only loser would be MLB which loses it’s deadline that it likes so much.

If this is Boras’ ultimate goal, then it’s actually a smart move even though we hate it. He could only pull this stunt with Alvarez, assuming it’s true that an extension for Hosmer was granted.

if the arbitrator ruled in favor of Boras considering the vast experience Coonely had at the Commisioner’s Office. As I recall, this is the sort of stuff Coonely was so good at that prompted the various teams to think so highly of him. Besides, if the salary process is any indicator then the arbitrator has only two choices: either rule in favor of MLB or the Player’s Association. I don’t think he is allowed to exhibit the wisdom of Solomon and arrive at some unexpected conclusion such as cutting Alvarez in half.

If all of my assumptions prove to be true then I fully expect him to rule in our favor and finally begin disclosing the chinks in Boras’ armor. There is one other potential benefit that could be achieved and that is the possibility that some of the teams might finally reach the conclusion that it’s best to avoid negotiations with clients of Boras—but I wouldn’t expect them to be that smart…they’re just as greedy as Boras. Just remember one thing when dealing with Boras: if you lay down with dogs you wake up with fleas.

but if they don’t, I can’t help but think Boras’ end goal is to make Pedro a free Agent.

Charlie, your option 2 suggests if the contract is voided Pedro would re enter the draft. But later you correctly note that the NCAA probably wouldn’t let him play his senior year. So will he sit out a year?

If the player’s association and Boars “win”—in the sense that they get the contract voided—I have to believe they will push to make Pedro a free agent THIS YEAR. As much as I hate Boras, I refuse to believe he is doing all this to save his reputation after failing to squeeze the Bucs out of all their money. He has a goal, and judging by his past, free agency for Pedro may be that goal.

I think there’s a pretty good chance that this is all a stunt by Boras to get rid of the extensions. Boras, whether right or wrong, obviously thinks that waiting until the last minute for these contracts gives him the best chance for a favorable deal. If MLB teams know they can just call up Selig and get an extra half hour, they’re not going to give Boras a better deal until they absolutely have to, at the end of the extension. It gives them an advantage that Boras doesn’t have.

If Boras is smart and resourceful, he’s not going to put himself in a position where it’s unlikely that he’ll get what he’s looking for. I find it much more likely that he’s making a big stink about (and using) Alvarez in order to get something other than what he seems to be on the surface (i.e. a new contract). Alvarez doesn’t want to go back to college (and probably can’t) or be backlisted by the MLB, so he really has no choice but to show up eventually. If he’s not able to sign this year, Alvarez is going to be pissed and Boras will look like a baby who made sure if he didn’t get his way, no one did. I can’t see how that helps him in the short or long term. My guess is he’s more of a diabolically calculated guy than a guy that has to prove he’s right or that he won.

I think we’ll be alright, Alvarez will be alright, and Boras will still get what he was looking for.

So what happens if the arbitrator rules in favor of the Players’ Union? Hard to say.

You’ve got to start that the Union’s official position has got to be that the player and his agent violated the rules just as much as PBC and MLB. The player and his agent are required under the rule to stop talking at midnight on 8/15 and did not.

Unofficially, it’ll be the big bad PBC scared poor Mr. Alvarez (and poor Mr. Boras) and they temporarily lost their minds and in an heightened emotional state agreed to keep talking and then agreed to a deal after midnight. They are to be pitied and not punished. Background music = “Poor, poor pitiful me.”

Arbitrators have wide latitude to fashion remedies so very little is actually not “on the table.” I wish I could say there’s no chance that Alaverz could be declared a free agent, but the best I can say is that it’s only a small chance. The Union will argue that a big remedy is needed to keep MLB and PBC from disrepecting the collective bargaining agreement in the future and free agency is just the thing.

I doubt the arbitrator will go this far — this appears like a little boo boo, and not a major felony. If MLB can argue that the union was aware of this situation for year(s) and only acted now, that would mean they have to some extent agreed with this course of dealing. So this is the least likely remedy.

Putting Pedro in next year’s draft is the most legal remedy — if the contract was signed in violation of the CBA there’s no contract so Pedro has to go back in the draft next year, and the PBC gets a second Round 1 draft pick next year (3rd pick overall?). But the Union will argue that this is the least equitable remedy — it’s not fair to poor poor Pedro who was beat up by the big bad PBC.

I am afraid a arbitrator might think a “do over” is the most equitable remedy. Give the PBC and Pedro another week to work things out with a new, real, hard midnight deadline. That’s what Boras wants (the arbitrator knows this) and Boras gets his way a lot so this wouldn’t be surprising. (Marvin Miller proved that bullies rule when it comes to MLB arbitration.)

Remember — this issue only arises if the arbitrator first rules (a) that the union has standing to object to player, agent, MLB and PBC waiving midnight deadline, and (b) that Alvarez contract was not a contract by midnight 8/15 (meaning not that each and every term were agreed to, but that the enough terms were agreed to to make it a valid contract).

Can anyone ask DK to ask MLB/PBC to televise or stream the arbitration online?? I’d love to watch Coonley in action.

Pedro just needs to sneak out of Boras’ window and catch a bus over to Pittsburgh…we won’t tell Papa Boras