FanPost

Where Does Appel Go From Here?

Much has been made of the fact that Appel has limited leverage in his negotiations under the new CBA. It's hard to dispute the facts: he's been drafted in the top 10 in 2012, but he feels like he's getting screwed because he's not able to get paid what he's worth. Fair enough. To improve on his situation, he is faced with the prospect of returning to school and performing well enough to get drafted no. 1 overall in 2013. And he can't get hurt. Or get arrested or do anything stupid. Some of these things are in his control but others are not. We all know the story.

Okay. Say he does all of those things. And he gets a call from the 1st team selecting in 2013 and they say we're interested in drafting you - will you take $6 million? Here's the problem: the rumor was that he slipped to us because he rejected the Astros $6 million offer this year. The rumor makes some sense given the fact that everyone had Appel going higher than he was drafted - other teams logically probably thought that if No. 1 money wasn't good enough why would less than No. 1 money get it done? If it is true, then by getting picked 1st overall in 2013 he will have simply done what he already did this year. Assuming $6 million wasn't enough this year why would it be enough next year? Even if it's not true about the Astros it doesn't change the argument. If Appel is concerned about getting paid - he should take the Pirates $3 million and do well. The sooner he signs a contract the sooner he'll be a free agent. From my point of view waiting and haggling over $3 million is simply time wasted.

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