If the rumors about Stanford right-hander Mark Appel turning down the Astros’ offer to pay him $6 million as the No. 1 overall pick last month were true--and really, even if they weren’t--agent Scott Boras better have some pretty big tricks up his sleeve.
Appel went from presumed No. 1 pick to falling all the way to the Pirates at No. 8, where the recommended slot value is $2.9 million. Pittsburgh can go beyond that amount, but not by anywhere near enough to make passing on $6 million pay off for Appel and Boras.
In fact, according to Baseball America‘s extensive draft database that incorporates all of the Pirates’ allotted money and previous signings they can now pay Appel a maximum of $3.837 million without being stripped of a draft pick next season. Carlos Correa, the player Houston ended up picking at No. 1, signed almost immediately for $4.8 million.