Posts Tagged ‘Mike Rizzo’

Bryce Harper Joins Washington Nationals: Now What?

August 17th, 2010

So Bryce Harper signed a major league deal with the Washington Nationals worth $9.9 million last night before the midnight deadline.

Awesome.

But what does it mean?

To start with, it means he had to be placed on the 40-man roster, and that happened today with Luis Atilano being transferred to the 60-day disabled list.  He wasn't going to return this season after surgery on his elbow to remove bone chips.

The team will have Harper in next week's homestand to meet the media and the major league staff; he'll probably work out as well. Don't expect him to be taking any batting practice while the gates are open, though.

After that, it's off to Viera, FL, home of the Nats minor league complex to work out, and perhaps get in a few Gulf Coast League games before the season ends on August 28th. If the team feels like he's ready, they could then send him out to a minor league assignment for a week or so.

Once the season ends, Harper will go to the Nats Florida Instruction League, where they send their best prospects for intensive workout and training, and perhaps—General manager Mike Rizzo was non-committal about this last night—he could even be assigned to the Arizona Fall League, which is the annual showcase for the top young talent in the major leagues.

Then, since he has the major league contract, he'll be invited to big league spring training to get a taste of that before spending next season in the minor leagues, instead of his senior year of high school.

But that's logistics.

What do yesterday's signings—all four of them—mean to the big picture?

Read the rest at Nats News Network.

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Let’s Hear It for Bryce Harper: The Nationals Have Too Much Talent

August 17th, 2010

For all the talk and hype of the over-exposed phenom, upon the ultimate presumption of Bryce Harper, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2010 MLB Draft, it was the Washington Nationals birthright to reasonably offer baseball’s next megastar millions.

In the nation’s capital, the most complicated signing wasn’t poetic or plausible, even if he’s deemed the “Chosen One” and the "Most Exciting Prodigy Since LeBron,” a publicity gimmick featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated not long ago.

If each party had failed to reach a consensus deal before the clock struck midnight, it would have slightly been the most stunning development in baseball history.

By the time baseball’s amateur signing deadline loomed ever so closer, Harper and the Nationals reached an agreement on a fittingly $9.9 million, five-year deal. And finally, he agreed to terms on a contract, avoiding re-entry into the 2011 draft.

He rightfully benefits from a franchise that is aiming to improve by building a legitimate force around the rookie sensation and No. 1 draft choice from 2009, Stephen Strasburg, who accepted a record-breaking $15.1 million, four-year contract a year ago.

The anonymity continuously added to the possibility of losing out on the rights of the biggest name to generate such widespread consideration, and the near-casualties almost cost the franchise, but the Nationals were fortunate enough to land the considerably talented prospects.

Nationals' general manager Mike Rizzo pulled off a miracle as the clock almost struck midnight and offered Harper a comfortable deal. The diplomacy has empowered Rizzo to somehow urge the stubborn agent Scott Boras.

In the end of all the intense conversations, the two negotiators eventually finalized a contract before deadline. Rizzo aggressively bid for Harper, who is compared to Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez for his abilities to connect in one swing and deposit homers.

If the folks residing in the nation’s capital are really fortunate to witness and anoint the high-profile stars, then it’s easy to say that baseball emerges as a relevant theme in a town where the game was very uneventful.

But the arrival of Strasburg uplifted the fans curiosity at National Park, urging a crowd to fill in the stands at the hottest venue, and adore the magnetic star. His impressive debut in Washington defined a convincing performance.

In a short time span, he’s growing as a legend for repairing the relevancy of the Nationals, and he is inserting a sense of pride on a disastrous franchise that suddenly is worth cheering and even watching regularly.

And now, we all know that Harper hit .443 with 31 homers and 98 RBIs at Southern Nevada, and become the second junior college player to win the Golden Spikes Award in 33 years.

Those were the days when he was the top amateur player in the nation and impressed scouts at such a young age.

Nowadays, he’s projected to claim stardom, but nonetheless lacks maturity that could raise concern.

In the past, he was tossed and suspended for arguing with an umpire during the Junior College World Series. This season, he was ejected for mocking opponents, and his trademark is grabbing all the unnecessary attention.

The symbolic eyeblack is the ugliest style ever seen and it’s not a game face, but the silliest face in sports.

If he is wearing his eyeblack all over the place when he takes the field in the near future, he would be identified as a clown on the field as if National Park is hosting the most entertaining circus.  

But this is a whole new ballgame, and in reality, this is the Major Leagues, not the Little League or Junior League. In a town that is overwhelmed to possess the sensational catcher, who’ll be making a transition to outfielder, he’s badly needed to lift a franchise out of inferiority.

What we have now is a power-hitting 17-year old with the urgency and poise to rise at the major-league level and delight the overjoyed fans. The signing of Harper was very significant for a franchise long-awaiting prosperity.

In a celebration on Tuesday, team president Stan Kasten smashed a cream pie in the face of Rizzo. It was well-deserving for a man who has constructed aspiration and life on a resuscitated franchise.

It’s easy enough to credit Rizzo for thinking intelligently in a rebuilding process, managing to sign the No. 1 pick before the midnight deadline.

Maybe he’s so persuasive at intriguing and brainwashing the mind of Boras. Maybe he offers millions to satisfy the players’ wishes, such as when Harper had finally signed to avoid declaring for the draft for the second straight year.

“[Harper] gives us another impact player in the system,” Rizzo said. “We feel we’ve really become a deep system with not only good major-league prospects but sprinkling in several impact-type players.

“He could possibly be a cornerstone of our lineup in the very near future.”

Oh, he will be a cornerstone, all right.

The accurate assumptions by Rizzo, the genius coming away victorious in every draft, are signs of motivation and self-confidence for Harper in the big leagues, increasing the raw talent of a versatile phenom.

For a battered franchise with limited goodness, the last things the Nationals need are under-performers and faltering star players. By meeting expectations, Harper might instantly change the landscape and fuel a sense of happiness by accumulating victories and producing triumph for a harmless club.

If not, the Nationals in all likelihood would still earn attention nationwide and ratings might expand, simply for what could be a prodigy in the league, a gifted player with the knack to captivate viewers.

And then again, he might not adapt as quickly as most are predicting. But as advertised, he might not only be the face of the Nationals, but the face of baseball in general.

The hideous eye black conceivably is a useful concept that he could be the face of the Majors.

First, if he wants to prove worthy and claim greatness, he will have to be called up from the minor-league system but the Nationals maintain the leverage on that one. If so, it’s easy to suggest that he’s a valuable piece. It is also rational to believe that he has the potential to be an All-Star.

If so, the fans kindly will elevate Harper’s reverence and notability at the highest level.

On the same night, the Nationals signed 25 of its top 26, including its second-round and fourth-round pick and left-handed pitcher Sammy Solis and right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole to contracts worth seven figures.

The common ritual for the Nationals is aggressively signing the deepest talent in the draft, despite almost losing out on Harper. The familiarity is discovered oftentimes on You Tube as the videos of his spectacular displays have brainwashed the nation.

From his features, he seems to be very legit and crafty in chasing and connecting with pitches by employing a powerful swing. But with all evidence that he’s self-absorbed and cocky, he is ranked atop all baseball prospects in a generation when his talent is admired globally and most notably in Major League Baseball.

On Sunday, Strasburg's comments jolted the headlines when he boldly called out Harper for holding out.

Here’s what he had to let out. “If he doesn’t want to play here, then we don’t want him here.”

However, the comments he delivered were surprising but may have been a reality check.

By all accounts, Harper wants to play in the District of Columbia.

But he is, nonetheless, represented by a greedy and influential agent. More interesting is that Strasburg is represented by Boras, too, and signed late as the deadline approached ever closer a year ago.

Aside from that drama, Harper is described as LeBron James.

How?

He never hijacked television to announce how much the deal was worth with the Nationals, but agreed in terms before deadline.

By all means, he won’t need much time to develop or adapt to the highest level. But after a monstrous college career, he must now translate similar attributes in the big leagues.

Is he the next greatest slugger and star in baseball?

Maybe he is the most talented 17-year-old and smartest kid after skipping his final two years of high school to receive his GED and enter junior college to be drafted a year earlier.

With high expectations, he’s as advertised and won’t disappoint.

Suddenly, a lifelong dream likely becomes a lifetime accomplishment.   

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Nats, Harper agree to $9.9M, 5-year deal (AP)

August 16th, 2010
Agreeing to a $9.9 million, five-year deal with No. 1 draft choice Bryce Harper seconds before the deadline was such a big deal, Washington Nationals president Stan Kasten marked the occasion by smacking general manager Mike Rizzo in the face with a whipped-cream pie. Kasten called it something he has to do "when we celebrate victories here." On-the-field wins have been hard to come by...

Expect Bryce Harper Negotiations To Go Down To Wire, But He Will Sign

August 14th, 2010

Nothing to worry about Washington Nationals fans, this will get done, although it may come down to the deadline before it is announced.

The posturing that is going on between the overall No. 1 pick in MLB's first year player draft and the team that picked him is simply normal negotiation ploys by both sides. Believe me, the kid will sign when all is said and done.

Harper, 17, has until Monday at midnight ET to agree to terms on a contract. But it is not alarming to assume that Harper's adviser, the infamous Scott Boras, will not crack until he is forced to. To give in now would be akin to blasphemy in the high stakes poker world of the business in which Boras deals in.

For this isn't just about Harper; it is about Boras' reputation and his credibility with future clients.

Here's hoping that cooler heads prevail and the kid comes to his senses and doesn't let the Boras ego deter him from starting his professional career.

Look, if Harper doesn't sign, he will re-enter the draft pool in 2011. Not only is that draft class shaping up to be a much stronger one than the 2010 class, what if the kid gets hurt? Is that risk worth a few extra dollars in the long run?

Maybe to Boras, who isn't necessarily looking after the long-term best interests of Harper, but has to consider what is best for future recruitment business.

Why the optimism that Harper will sign?

Well, it is based largely on common sense as well as a strong feeling among baseball executives and scouting directors that I've spoke to that Harper is sure to sign before the deadline.

Harper's performance isn't likely to match what he did last season at Southern Nevada, so he won't improve his leverage by returning to the Scenic West Athletic Conference.

Plus, Boras and Nats GM Mike Rizzo have worked well together in the past.

While Rizzo was with Arizona, he drafted and signed several Boras clients and went through the Stephen Strasburg negotiations just last August.

Meanwhile, 17 players remain unsigned from the first round of the 2010 draft, so Harper's situation may be more newsworthy but it is certainly not unique.

It's a game of chicken but it's the kids that often get plucked in the long run if they do not sign.

Harper, for example, would be missing out on valuable development time and a possibly quicker path to the majors if he goes back to school.

So, in the end, both sides need each other and that is the motivation that will seal the deal.

Another potential wrinkle in these negotiations, however, is all the buzz going around about changing the drafting process in the next collective bargaining agreement to a more rigid slotting system similar to the ones used in the NBA and NHL.

Still, the Nats will likely move closer to the $10-11 million bonus range that many expect, while Harper will eventually show his hand that he really wants badly to start his career.

Regardless of whether or not people agree that Harper will sign, there is no disagreement over Harper's projected future stardom.

Once he signs, that is.

 

 

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Dunn still on Nats after trade deadline (AP)

July 31st, 2010
Slugger Adam Dunn is still with the Washington Nationals despite a lot of interest from other teams. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said several clubs called about Dunn before Saturday's deadline for making trades without waivers. Rizzo says the Nationals didn't get an offer worth taking.