Joshua Fields

by SoCalSoxFan on Nov 3, 2008 9:29 PM PST

have you guy heard anything about him signing? i'm in SoCal and don't get much info on the M'sdown here obviously, but I havent' heard a word about him. The kid looked dirty in college and figured he'd be on the fast track to at least a setup role depending on if Putz bounces back. Anyway, thought you guys might have heard something. Thanks in advance for any info on him

thanks

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Hasn't signed, I'm starting to think he isn't going to.

Which is fine by me.

J.K.L.

by Aaron Campeau on Nov 3, 2008 9:32 PM PST reply actions

Hasn't signed, we hope he doesn't.

The compensation pick we’d get for him not signing would probably be more useful. Fields was somewhat of a useless pick to begin with.

by BrianL on Nov 3, 2008 9:33 PM PST reply actions

Why exactly did we pick him in the first place? A college reliever?

Indie.

by .Taylor on Nov 3, 2008 9:48 PM PST up reply actions

Highest impact at an individual position was Fontaine's explanation.

J.K.L.

by Aaron Campeau on Nov 3, 2008 9:51 PM PST up reply actions

Nothing.

The two sides weren’t eager to bridge the gap in the early negotiations. Now, Borad has the big bucks to worry about, so we probably won’t hear anything new until spring training.

I don’t think Zduriencik’s the type to pop a first round pick on a reliever, so I think he just gives it lip service and then takes twenty-two next year.

Sucks for Fields though, he’s shot himself in the foot twice now with his demands and may end up pitching in the indy leagues hoping to get picked again. First the hometown Braves did it, then the M’s did it. I don’t think he’s going to get the money he’s asking for. It would hard for him to pull off a Hochevar.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 3, 2008 9:37 PM PST reply actions

I kind of doubt it...

Failing to make a good faith effort to sign your team’s first round pick is kind of a slap in the face to your area scouts. I don’t see a new GM issuing a blatant repudiation of the team’s scouts and cross-checkers who sent in positive reports on Fields. I can see Zduriencik refusing to go above slot, but if Boras agrees to the price, Fields will sign.

by slamcactus on Nov 4, 2008 10:48 AM PST up reply actions

Valid point.

That’s probably a more accurate portrayal of how it will go down.

I don’t know that either side will cave though.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 4, 2008 10:53 AM PST up reply actions

Right - it's a tough call for Fields

On the plus side, he’s still got the ‘draft pick most likely to help a team NOW’ thing going, which could lead a contender going above slot next year. On the down side, he was a senior and now will have pitched a year of indy ball. Worked for Hochevar, but he’s seriously gotta be thinking about Matt Harrington too….

by marc w on Nov 4, 2008 11:18 AM PST up reply actions

Except that Zduriencik already fired the guy who picked him...

While he might be willing to keep around the scouts that were part of Fontaine’s team, what makes you think he, or the scouts for that matter, honestly care?

This is about what’s best for the team going forward, and I’m sure he can rationalize it to his team very easily without bruising egos. It’s Z’s team now and he has to deal with the previous administrations errors. Let him do what he thinks is best.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Nov 4, 2008 12:12 PM PST up reply actions

Not too willing to...

delve into armchair psychology, but I’m not talking about what should happen, I’m speculating about what will happen. I’m not saying nobody will work for the man if he doesn’t respect their scouting reports and break the bank to sign Fields, but I really don’t see him saying “This was a crappy pick who I don’t want in the organization.” It’s just not the kind of tactical move made by the kind of person who reaches a management position in this industry.

I expect Zduriencik to hold fast at slot money and wait for Boras to accept, which he eventually will. I don’t think Zduriencik will walk away from the negotiations in favor of taking the extra pick next year. I’d be happy to be wrong, but I don’t see it happening.

by slamcactus on Nov 4, 2008 12:20 PM PST up reply actions

I think you're overanalyzing

Like I said, if Zduriencik decides to somehow not sign Fields, then I’m sure he avoid hurt feelings by the scouting staff. I doubt anybody would take it as Zduriencik making opinions on the scout’s abilities / skills. Remember, these people all know that the direction / purpose of the team last year was different from this year. Things change and Josh Fields is no longer as valued a pick as before.

Quite frankly, if Z can’t make them come along with his train of thought, then what’s the point of him being in charge? I agree with your second point, though. Z wont budge on the slot money issue, because he has no reason to do so. If Boras’ client wants to get paid, they’ll have to cave. Or not. Either way we win.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Nov 4, 2008 3:26 PM PST up reply actions

I don't think

he’ll have a mutiny on his hands or anything. I just don’t think he’ll do it. If Fields will sign for slot, I think it’s virtually certain that Zduriencik will sign him.

by slamcactus on Nov 5, 2008 7:52 AM PST up reply actions

Seems like people in Southern California seem to do OK with Mariners news =/

by seattlebruin on Nov 3, 2008 11:10 PM PST reply actions

Maybe he's related to Sean.

Indie.

by .Taylor on Nov 4, 2008 9:17 AM PST up reply actions

Joshua Fields Forever

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Nov 4, 2008 9:49 AM PST reply actions

$$$ Dispute

Supposedly the two sides are hung up on $500K. Fields wants $2 million, the M’s won’t go above slot (which is appx $1.5 mil).

The M’s position is pretty reasonable. As a college senior and a relief pitcher, Fields has about as little leverage as a drafted player can have. This is absolutely no reason to go over slot with him. In fact, if Fields wasn’t represented by Boras, he would be a good candidate for a below slot bonus.

I don’t get why Fields/Boras are doing this. However, I would rather see Zduriencik and the M’s scouting director use that extra first rounder on someone better next year anyhow. That is what Zduriencik is known for. Lets hope he gets three extra picks to work with in the next draft.

by Jerry on Nov 4, 2008 9:58 AM PST reply actions

assuming this is the situation

I hope so

by JI on Nov 4, 2008 11:01 AM PST up reply actions

I read a quote from Boras a while back

He was saying that before the draft, they told all the teams that it would require 2mil to sign him, and that’s the only reason he was available when the M’s came around. Otherwise he was going to be long gone. I think it’s total crud, but that’s typical Boras.

by dancehall_dreamer on Nov 4, 2008 1:39 PM PST reply actions

I wonder if his attitude will change once he has to play in the indie leagues for a season.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Nov 4, 2008 1:48 PM PST up reply actions

Is an extra first rounder really a good thing?

I’m not so sure it is considering how “cheap” the Mariners have been with the draft in the past, the #2 pick in 2009, and the possible compensation picks for Ibanez. I’m not certain how their budgeting works, but I seriously doubt that the $1.5 million they’d save from not signing Fields would roll over into the 2009 draft budget.

by discovolante on Nov 4, 2008 6:34 PM PST reply actions

I would say that an extra first rounder is a good thing, yes.

by BrianL on Nov 4, 2008 6:46 PM PST up reply actions

Not generally.

They haven’t historically rolled over extra free agent budgeting from one year to the next.

As to the draft, they were the middle of pack in spending last year, and dead last this year, which is unsurprising considering that they weren’t able to come to terms with Fields yet. Not signing picks nine through eleven also messes with the budgeting, but say you do give Fields the two million. I’m pretty sure that would still put the Mariners around the bottom ten.

I believe that Zduriencik, having that strong background in scouting and draft work, would be able to convince them to open up their wallets for some extra walking around money if it meant a stronger organization as a whole. You can’t be near the bottom in spending twice without riling the fan base. We certainly won’t be that, with the second overall pick, but I still believe that the organization will see the benefit in making a strong positive statement.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 4, 2008 7:03 PM PST up reply actions