Stassi "leaning" toward signing with A's
by andyinfremont on Aug 13, 2009 12:53 AM PDT
34 comments
It's starting to look like the A's may well get Max Stassi to sign on the dotted line. According to the Appeal-Democrat newspaper in Marysville, California:
Stassi, who was taken in the fourth round, received an official offer from the A's on Monday, said Jim Stassi, Max's father and coach at Yuba City High.
And while the offer is still below "the bottom line" of what it would take to pull Max away from his full-ride scholarship, the offer still raised eyebrows.
"We're negotiating right now," Jim Stassi said. "It was more than what I anticipated they would offer."
The father declined to discuss monetary specifics of the offer or say just how close his son was to inking a contract with the A's. But he did say the offer was in first-round territory and they are "leaning that direction" toward the pros.
"They're definitely in the ballpark," Jim Stassi said of the offer.
The A's current bonus offer seems to be at least $1 million, which is basically low-first round money for the high school catcher. The article goes on to say that "the Stassi camp wanted 'top-20 money'", but it would seem the two sides aren't that far apart.
I love this over-slot signing if it happens. Stassi had a .514 batting average with 40 homer runs and 162 RBIs in high school, and in a college-level summer league with wooden bats he hit .301 average with 26 RBIs in 34 games. Not bad for an 18-year-old. And it seems to put to rest the concerns over the tendinitis in his shoulder.
Fingers crossed, but it's looking good.
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Please happen
If it were to come down between singing Green or Stassi I might just be inclined to say Stassi. That being said I believe both will sign by the deadline.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Aug 13, 2009 1:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
why would you want stassi
whos a catching prospect, just like donaldson and the 2 guys in the bigs that are playing pretty well. We need a SS still and Green would fill that void more than likely
by thewhizkid on Aug 13, 2009 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stassi is an exciting power bat
Of course I’d love to have Green and I think they’ll both get signed but I was just saying that Stassi has some serious pop and it’d be nice to have a Piazza-esque catcher on our team if I’m allowed to dream.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Aug 14, 2009 2:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stassi's Projection
He’s so young that it’s hard to make comps for him just yet, but my hope for Stassi is that his ceiling would be a Terry Kennedy or (better yet) a Ted Simmons type stat line. .285 – .300 hitter with 15 to 20 HR power. In this current post steroid age, that’s an All-Star catcher. He’s not as big a guy as Piazza — in fact, he more resembles a Giant from my childhood years: Mike Sadek, who was 5’9". (Stassi is 5’ 10") Not saying little guys can’t have some pop, as Yogi Berra and Joe Morgan proved throughout their careers. (I don’t call Paul LoDuca because he was so obviously a roid king.)
by Bubsy on Aug 14, 2009 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fantastic.
I loved this year’s draft, and if we end up signing both Green and Stassi, it’ll just put the icing on the cake. Any news on Sam Dyson?
by danmerqury on Aug 13, 2009 1:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
No word yet on Dyson
But we did just sign Justin Marks (3rd round pick).
by andyinfremont on Aug 13, 2009 1:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oops....
Actually, Marks signed last month. Apparently the A’s site is out of date.
by andyinfremont on Aug 13, 2009 1:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I heard Dyson was going back to school.
I’ll try and find a link.
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
by travdog6 on Aug 13, 2009 1:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here we go.
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
by travdog6 on Aug 13, 2009 1:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ah well.
That guy was more raw than Brett Hunter.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Aug 13, 2009 1:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Signing Stassi and Green is more than icing on the cake
It is essential. Without those two this is a pretty poor draft, especially high end talent wise. I’d like to see us signing Krol too, Signing Dyson, Zunino, Roller or Stover would be the icing on the cake.
by DeJay on Aug 13, 2009 7:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Without those two I wouldn’t even call it poor, more like terrible.
by jdr on Aug 13, 2009 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or to clarify myself
Not that their draft was terrible, that the outcome is terrible. But any draft where you don’t sign your two top players is pretty much going to be terrible.
by jdr on Aug 13, 2009 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
This (sign ability doubts) is why people were grading the draft a C in the opinion poll back at the time of the draft confusing those that really did not understand the mechanics.
"-i never said half the things i said." --Yogi Berra
by Ovale Fan on Aug 13, 2009 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Get the kid signed, give him what he wants, and threaten to kneecap him if he ever busts.
Some motherfcukers are always trying to ice skate uphill - Blade.
by OldhamA on Aug 13, 2009 5:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The A's are in a tricky position, because
“Get the kid signed, give him what he wants” is a very poor way to approach negotiations. Yet the A’s probably need these guys more than Green or Stassi need the A’s, since they can go back into the draft again.
Bottom line, though, is that as much as I want those two signed the A’s have to be willing to let them go if their demands are unreasonable — you just can’t approach negotiations with a “we have to sign them at all costs” mentality.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Aug 13, 2009 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It was obviously tongue in cheek.
I agree with what you say though, they should be pushing hard to sign the kids, but if they want too much they should walk away.
Some motherfcukers are always trying to ice skate uphill - Blade.
by OldhamA on Aug 13, 2009 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I did take your "threaten to kneecap him" seriously, though.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Aug 13, 2009 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully he would too.
Make him play harder.
Some motherfcukers are always trying to ice skate uphill - Blade.
by OldhamA on Aug 13, 2009 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like the a's strategy
Thje draft is an inefficent market, because talent is not the main factor, money is. Thus, if you’re willing to pony up a little more money, you can get first round talent late in the draft. So it’s more of an open market with peculiar rules than a draft. Signing premier talent for 1 million now is cheaper than paying 10 million for it down the road
"Sometimes Joe (morgan) doesn't like facts to get in the way of his opinions."- billy beane
"That was a great pick...if this was 2002" Me, to guy who selected Barry Zito in a fantasy draft
www.27ClubPeak.blogspot.com
by harendaman365 on Aug 13, 2009 7:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm guessing
The A’s are leaning on the playing-near-home thing – that’s presumably a big incentive for a kid who’s close to his Dad. If he goes back into the draft he doesn’t only have to wait three more years and risk injury/regression, he also ends up in Florida or Minnesota or wherever. Personally when I was 18 I couldn’t wait to get as far away from home as possible, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.
by jdr on Aug 13, 2009 9:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Stassi is an interesting one, isn't it
Highschool catchers have a relatively low success rate, do they not? Obviously, statistics mean next to nothing when applied to an individual.
It’ll be interesting to see how he progresses
by bobnothing on Aug 13, 2009 9:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
and yet the A's drafted
two high school catchers, the other being Leyland out of San Dimas.
by asyouwish33 on Aug 13, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Theodore Logan is going to have to move to 1B isn't he?
Some motherfcukers are always trying to ice skate uphill - Blade.
by OldhamA on Aug 13, 2009 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Joe Mauer was a high school catcher I believe.
Obviously cherry picking an example; it wouldn’t surprise me if they did have a low success rate.
by speckops on Aug 13, 2009 6:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, he's one of the notable exceptions. Brian McCann, too, I believe
I think I heard on the baseball america podcasts that there’s a lot of risk with highschool catchers.
someone more knowledgable than I am might like to weigh in on this
by bobnothing on Aug 14, 2009 12:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's a lot of risk with any highschool hitter
A lot of teams put a lot of focus in the makeup of the guy, being able to determine how he’ll handle being away from home for the first time in his life and playing in a professional baseball league.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Aug 14, 2009 2:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
With Catchers its doubly so
Not only does their bat have to play at a big league level which is hard enough to predict based on high school competition they have to be able to whether the physical demands of the position, which in itself is difficult. Furthermore, since catching is quite possibly the most difficult and important defensive position, the focus on improving defensive skills can stunt the development of a bat. So to sum up, regular high school talent identification problems, physically grueling position, defensive demands that can stunt developement of the bat. Makes sense that good catchers are so hard to find.
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 14, 2009 3:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Most college catchers were high school catchers
by Future Ed on Aug 14, 2009 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is true
but you also don’t draft the college catcher who flames out during his first two years at U of Whatever. Its another filter that allows you to make your decision of who is going to be able to cut it 3 years later when you have better information.
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 15, 2009 2:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty sure its Marysville, CA
Not Arizona… especially since Yuba City, CA (and HS) are neighbors.
If Ziegler blows a save... I'll flag his next post.
by gdub171 on Aug 13, 2009 10:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Interesting note on that college summer league team....
I believe Blake Crosby and Max Stassi were teammates for a short time on the Yuba-Sutter GoldSox (College Summer League). Also, Dallas Braden pitched for the GoldSox for one game a few years back. The GoldSox seem are fast becoming one of the premiere college summer league teams on the West Coast. The A’s establishing a “pipeline” to that program is definitely a good thing.
by cazair on Aug 13, 2009 6:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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