Comments on: Paxton Leaves Kentucky

By: Aaron Fitt

Aaron Fitt — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:38:50 +0000

I think you hit it on the head. It’s a pointless rule, and it’s completely ignored by everyone in the business. The NCAA just rarely can (or even tries, until just recently) to prove it.

By: John

John — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:02:45 +0000

Aaron: Isn't this reaching certain levels of lunacy. On one hand, the NCAA readily acknowledges that these kids have representatives (as long as they do not negotiate for money). If they do, the kid gets hammered (Paxton). On the other hand, a scout can talk to a kid and tell him the team is interested in drafting him, the kid can asks him what type of money that they were considering, and the team says "4th round dollars" (for example). By current policy, that is okay? What's the difference between a "representative" or a kid asking what kind of dollars? What about a parent "representing" the kid? Can he ask? IMHO, the NCAA has done a pretty decent job of botching this. Oliver last year. Paxton this year. Look behind home plate at any game. You have scouts sitting next to player reps. In fairness to these kids, the NCAA should lighten up and accept the fact that this is now part of the college baseball business (and I stress – business) and work with the schools, major league baseball, and the private business sector to determine how best to proceed. Until then, we are going to have more kids get hammered through these arcane policies. Sorry for the rambling post, but the NCAA never ceases to amaze me.

By: NMS

NMS — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:54:10 +0000

"Whether it was for the best or not, Scott Boras' post draft interaction with the Blue Jays has prevented James Paxton from playing his senior year at Kentucky."

How is this Boras' fault? His "post draft interaction with the Blue Jays"? He is an agent, it is his job to have "post draft interactions" with clubs to get his players their bonuses. How else is he, or any agent, supposed to negotiate and get guys signing bonuses without "interacting" with teams?

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:25:12 +0000

Boras does show a proclivity of hanging his clients out to dry. Paxton is a kid who got burned by the dollar signs Boras put in his eyes. Blue Jays front office isn't to blame if Boras had no intention of allowing his client to sign last year. He definetly could have reseeded higher in the draft this year thanks to a weaker college corp, and less depth in the LHP dept. He isn't to far behind Chris Sale skills wise.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:03:23 +0000

I agree, Boras Corp. botched this one (as did the Jays front office). But I believe that it was one of Boras agents handling this client, not Boras himself.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:20:49 +0000

Whether it was for the best or not, Scott Boras' post draft interaction with the Blue Jays has prevented James Paxton from playing his senior year at Kentucky.