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Thursday, February 17, 2005

Sounds To Me Like The Angels May Be The Last To Know Whether They Will Sign Jered Weaver

From MLB.com:

Notes: 'Confident' about Weaver
Negotiations still going on between team, Boras
By Doug Miller / MLB.com

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Spring Training workouts for pitchers and catchers were in full swing Thursday morning, and the Angels' much-ballyhooed top pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft was not there.

Jered Weaver, the brother of Dodgers starter Jeff Weaver and the 12th pick in last year's draft, is still unsigned because Angels general manager Bill Stoneman has not come to an agreement with Weaver's high-profile agent, Scott Boras.

Angels owner Arte Moreno said negotiations are going on and that he was "confident" something would get done soon. Weaver, who starred at Long Beach State, is believed to be asking for a comparable deal to that of Cubs pitcher Mark Prior, who got over $10 million when he signed in 2001.

"Bill Stoneman and Boras need to see if we can close the gap," Moreno said. "... We're real optimistic about it happening."

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't it Mr. Moreno's money?

Moreno said he had a good working relationship with Boras, who works in Orange County and has season tickets behind home plate at Angel Stadium.

"A couple times a year, we have a couple beers and talk baseball," Moreno said of Boras, who engineered lucrative contracts for clients Carlos Beltran, Adrian Beltre, J.D. Drew and Derek Lowe over the winter.

Just a couple of buddies shootin' the...um...breeze.

"He's a business guy, and he probably had the best offseason of any guy in baseball."

Oh, man, you've....never mind!

Whether Boras gets more action with a Weaver signing remains to be seen. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he'd be excited if it happens but that he's too busy to worry about it right now.

"Obviously, he's a talent," Scioscia said. "I know Eddie [Bane, scouting director] and Bill positioned themselves throughout the draft and strategically made some picks with the viewpoint that they might not be able to sign Jered.

"Everyone is doing everything they can to bring him into our organization. The marketplace has been set for special talent, and the fly in the ointment seems to be common ground. It'll play itself out one way or the other."

Is that last paragraph not the height of cliche'. Okay, let me see if I understand correctly. The Angels' owner is pretty sure (in fact, "confident") that Jered will be signed. He likes to throw back a few brewskies with his pal, Boras. But when it comes to his money, Bill Stoneman calls the shots. Beside, his keester is covered with "strategic" draft picks. Okay, I understand.

It is within Arte Moreno's power and pocketbook to get a deal done, or to conclusively state that the price is too high. I wonder if he knows that.

posted on 2/17/2005 by Jeff Agnew

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