Rumor has it that Appel refused the Astros’ $6 million offer to sign first. If that is the case, and he did so on his representative Scott Boras’ advice, he should sue Boras for malpractice. The net result of that tactic was for him to slide on "signability" concerns to the Pirates. In my opinion this tactic leaves Appel with very little leverage in his negotiations with the Pirates. Either he signs at whatever the Pirates want to give him at No. 8 or he returns for a senior season/goes to independent ball and lands in a more loaded 2013 draft with the hope he doesn’t get injured or have a bad season.

Scott Boras is in the business of and is frequently successful in getting clients top dollar for players. But I think his work turns individual players into proxies for Boras' own interests. The Appel situation, if my understanding of it is correct (which is certainly no given), would be a good example of Boras making a "statement" that actually harms his client's interest. Like I said, I’m not certain I understand what’s going on here but Appel's refusal does not appear to have provided any benefit to Appel. In fact, it appears to have cost Appel - a sure-fire top two or three pick - several million dollars.