I just signed this guy(Clayton Capps) who was the number 2 overall pick of the am draft. He went FA after not getting signed. In a bidding war that caused him to get a ton of salary. 

Now I am wondering what happens in the final years of his contract. The fifth year has a mutual option but he will still be in his arb years during that time. Can he decline the option for arbitration or can I decline the option and take him to arb? 

What are his projections?  for a 23 year old he looks fairly pedestrian.

28/80 Dur /STA 78 CNT 81-100 Splits, 96-93-75-71-56 pitches. Has not started to develop at all yet.

those are insane numbers (salary wise) for a guy who is 23 already and is very average right now.  If he had those numbers and he was 18 Id be excited but I wouldnt dream of paying him that salary while he is improving in high A, then AA then AAA.

Id guess that he will hit low to mid 70s for his splits and control, and low 80s for his first 2 pitches.  Not deserving of 18 mill Id think?

Are those his projections from last year's draft, or from the 2 you have in advanced scouting?

You will be able to decline the last year and take him to arbitration. 

The contract's not really any different than a $38M International and you get to spread over 4 years.  I doubt he's worth it.

I did sign a unsigned draftee three seasons ago to a $1.1/$1.5M deal and even though he is in AAA and not on the 40, he's making 500K this year

thanks that is what I wanted to know,
Yeah that is from my 2 adv scouting but he was the top pitcher on my draft board and the number 2 pick in the draft. 

Wait, since when do players that go unsigned from the draft enter free agency?!?

Posted by tannermcc on 8/13/2011 11:49:00 AM (view original):
Wait, since when do players that go unsigned from the draft enter free agency?!?

College players who go unsigned after being drafted have sometimes gone FA for a long time now.

Posted by zbrent716 on 8/13/2011 12:18:00 PM (view original):

Posted by tannermcc on 8/13/2011 11:49:00 AM (view original):
Wait, since when do players that go unsigned from the draft enter free agency?!?

College players who go unsigned after being drafted have sometimes gone FA for a long time now.

I believe it's actually only Sr's that go unsigned can enter FA.

22 year old college seniors who go unsigned, but I believe its only when they would've accepted slot money.  If they had plans to go pro in another sport, then they disappear after rollover.  So for the #2 pick to be a FA the following season, it sounds like the owner that drafted him may have abandoned the team. Is that correct?

When HBD was still shiny and new, I signed my franchise's all-time best hitter (at the start of Season 2)  as a minor league FA for a few thousand dollars.  I was the first one that noticed that he was the #10 pick from the season 1 draft, and had gone unsigned after the owner abandoned the team early in the previous season.

That may the most idiotic contract I've ever seen...

Very similar to how I signed <a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1564104" target="_blank">Louie Stark</a>

I'm guessing he'll develop like he was a drafted senior. I think he'll continue to develop even after he turns 27. If you manage the service time you might get to take him to arbitration one or twice.

So I am bringing this back up becuase he is now close to his option year.Clayton Capps  Can I decline his option $18 M  for season 15, and just pay him as a second year player would be paid $360K(with the 1/4 decline price of course)? Any one know this answer, no one I have talked to has seen this before.

Ignoring the option, if he is pre-arb. he'll be on your roster for $500k, as that is what any other minor league FA who gets ML cash would turn into if they dont' hit arb. during their contract.

Not sure what declining the option might do, as that's a little like releasing an arb. guy, isn't it?

Depends how badly you need the cap space, I guess......

He turned out to be pretty good ...  lol