Comments for Cory Humes

Comment on Could the Pittsburgh Pirates Give Boras Client Stephen Strasburg $100 Million? by WPIAL Sports

WPIAL Sports — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:50:32 +0000

100 million for a pitcher, if he wasn’t guaranteed every cent of it, then sure. But pitchers do blow out their arms quite frequently this days. Look at the top pitcher taken for the last 10 years, would any of those guys be worth it???

Comment on Could the Pittsburgh Pirates Give Boras Client Stephen Strasburg $100 Million? by GrtSm

GrtSm — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:59:32 +0000

HE WONT DROP TO THE PIRATES… but he could get past the Nationals. The main reason why he is demanding 50 million is because he would love to stay in San Diego. The best chance the Pirates would have to get him is if he gets elbow inflamation or something, and teams become a little bit scared.
That said, let’s hope that we absolutely suck this year, and the Nats can’t sign him, and we get the #1 pick next year… then we can get a real pitcher.
If that doesnt happen, we can still get the #1 pick, and draft a nice, signable pitcher… does Bullington have a younger brother?

Comment on Could the Pittsburgh Pirates Give Boras Client Stephen Strasburg $100 Million? by Mike Jewart

Mike Jewart — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:55:47 +0000

I have also read some things on Strasbug and there does seem to be some concern regarding his mechanics. There is especially some concern that because of motion he is susceptible to arm problems. I like the idea, but the Pirates must be very positive that he can stay fairly healthy. I understand that injuries are built into the equiation, but with their track record, paying a pitcher that amount with concerns about staying healthy is a huge risk.

Comment on Could the Pittsburgh Pirates Give Boras Client Stephen Strasburg $100 Million? by Doug Gray

Doug Gray — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:37:21 +0000

What people seem to be talking about as ‘worth’ is a lot different than what should be paid to Strasburg. ‘Worth’ that people want to talk about is what he would earn on the Free Agent market. The problem is, he ISN’T ON THE FREE AGENT MARKET. He is in the draft for a reason. The point of the draft is to allow the best talents to go to the worst teams to keep parity in baseball. Even in baseball the most “can’t miss” prospects miss, especially when we are talking pitchers because all it takes is one wrong pitch and a guys career is altered forever.
Strasburgs reports are off the charts. Only one pitcher has come close to matching his performance and his talent in college and it was Prior. Prior got a record (and still the record) 10.5 Million to sign. Is Strasburg twice the prospect that Mark Prior was? Absolutely not. Some would argue that Prior was even the better prospect (given he had more above average pitches than Strasburgs 2 and he faced better competition in college and put up similarly video game type numbers), so why should Strasburg be able to demand even 30 million, much less the talk of 50?
He shouldn’t get that kind of money. There is simply too much risk involved and it defeats the entire purpose of not only the draft slotting system but also arbitration numbers. What makes Strasburg more valuable than Tim Lincecum? What about a guy like Edinson Volquez? What about someone like David Price? Until he has done it against professionals, much less Major Leaguers, its a huge risk that someone will be taking just to pay him 10-15 million, much less 25-30 million.

Comment on Could the Pittsburgh Pirates Give Boras Client Stephen Strasburg $100 Million? by Cory Humes

Cory Humes — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:33:51 +0000

I don’t know that I’d agree that Strasburg is unproven. At this point, scouts know exactly what he has. He’s pitched at every level of competition available to him. If he’s throwing 100 with “Madduxian” control … I don’t know. I think I’d take the risk. He’s proven as much as he can.
I definitely agree that a pitcher should probably be the No. 1 pick, but I’d waffle if Green fell.
Gorzelanny probably doesn’t have any trade value right now. Jose Tabata was No. 75 on BA’s top 100 — I can’t picture a team that would rather have Gorzo than Tabata. Until he proves he can throw with the same stuff as he did pre-Tracy, teams have to consider him to be damaged goods. He’s worth more to us pitching in Triple-A, trying to figure things out than he is as a chip.

Comment on Could the Pittsburgh Pirates Give Boras Client Stephen Strasburg $100 Million? by Cory Humes

Cory Humes — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:18:31 +0000

1. Mentioned Prior — in essentially three and a half years, he was worth $50 million. The injury risk is built into the contract, and time off is expected. That said, of course no pitcher will every receive a contract like this.
2. Rizzo won’t have the final say in this matter. Ownership and upper-level management would make the decision as to whether or not Boras’ demands are believable, and what should happen as a result. This situation isn’t comparable to any other. Boras is looking to break new ground.
3. If the Pirates made it known that they offered $100 million to Strasburg, Boras would get dropped like a bad habit. Moreover, if you’re Strasburg — and it’s your call to make, not your agent’s — would you really turn down $100 million? Really?

Comment on Could the Pittsburgh Pirates Give Boras Client Stephen Strasburg $100 Million? by GrtSm

GrtSm — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:11:41 +0000

This is my favorite topic in baseball. I’ve read EVERYTHING about Strasburg since last June and can say that he is probably worth 75 million. So expanding on your ideas, it’s been said that agents control the draft, and that Strasburg is money-hungry, and would LOVE to stay in San Diego. But, if the Pirates say to Boras that they will pay 75 million for 7-8 years of Strasburg, Boras can tell teams “my client would not sign with you if you drafted him” and he could fall to us.
But, we won’t do anything close to that because $10 million per year for an unproven player is outrageous. Instead, I would love for us to get Matt Purke/ Tyler Matzek, and maybe get Matt Graham in the second round.
As a side note, what value do you think Tom Gorzo has in the trade market? Top 50 prospect?

Comment on Could the Pittsburgh Pirates Give Boras Client Stephen Strasburg $100 Million? by Pat

Pat — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:03:11 +0000

It’s an interesting point, but I don’t know if it’ll happen. I have a few thoughts.
1.) Mark Prior.
2.) Mike Rizzo was Arizona’s scouting director whne they drafted Stephen Drew after Boras huffed and puffed about him all year. I don’t think he’ll be scared off if he’s still in charge in DC.
3.) Boras would never sign the 12 year deal because in his view, Strasburg is worth $50 million now, then $100 million in six years. He just said this week that a client of his would never sign an extension past their arbitration years.

Comment on Could the Pittsburgh Pirates Give Boras Client Stephen Strasburg $100 Million? by Cory Humes

Cory Humes — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:06:01 +0000

The biggest obstacle would be getting Strasburg to fall that far — not just past the Nats and M’s, but past San Diego, which already has to be buzzing thanks to his NCAA performances.
Boras would need to come out and say firmly that he wants $50 million or he’s going to Japan. I imagine finding a team over there to pay him for a year wouldn’t be a problem. The sheer thought of an MLB draft pick getting $50 million is ridiculous enough for me to believe that no one would pay.
And then the Pirates … what do you have to lose? A six-year, $50 million deal is risky. If he gets hurt, he’s probably not worth it, and then you lose him to free agency anyway. The long-term deal really needs to be there to give you an opportunity to build some value.

Comment on Could the Pittsburgh Pirates Give Boras Client Stephen Strasburg $100 Million? by Alan Smodic

Alan Smodic — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:47:32 +0000

Cory and I have discussed something like this before… just giving a prospect all the money upfront. Especially if it’s one that’s billed as a “for-sure” thing. Why not issue him an offer he can’t refuse?
There’s no way he’d turn down $100 million right out of the draft. And if the scouts are right, you’d be earning your keep on the deal on the Pirates’ end.
Would I consider it? Yes.