Shocking Player Signing.... (Chris Huseby)

[craig]

http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/pro_baseball/article/0,2820,TCP_24442_4815139,00.html

 

I know this is the wrong topic, but I thought I'd post it on this board too because it is so surprising and significant. Huseby signs; you won't believe for how much. Wow wow wow wow.

Edited July 1, 2006 by craig

[Schwarber Fan]

"He must have one hell of an agent."

 

:lol:

[WrigleyField 22]

We know where all our 2nd 3rd and 4th round money went.

[Too Tall]

Wait, the cubs over spent for something? I don't believe it..

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/pro_baseball/article/0,2820,TCP_24442_4815139,00.html

 

I know this is the wrong topic, but I thought I'd post it on this board too because it is so surprising and significant. Huseby signs; you won't believe for how much. Wow wow wow wow.

 

He must have had a hell of a workout on May 26th and that other date in Mesa. I imagine his stuff is back - he supposedly has that FB that topped out at 93 mph, a curve, slider and change. He was on my list of most intriguing prospects after the 5th round (including Renshaw and Rundle)...but wowowowowowow is right.

 

Hopefully the area guys know what they're doing.

[CUBZ99]

http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/pro_baseball/article/0,2820,TCP_24442_4815139,00.html

 

I know this is the wrong topic, but I thought I'd post it on this board too because it is so surprising and significant. Huseby signs; you won't believe for how much. Wow wow wow wow.

 

He must have had a hell of a workout on May 26th and that other date in Mesa. I imagine his stuff is back - he supposedly has that FB that topped out at 93 mph, a curve, slider and change. He was on my list of most intriguing prospects after the 5th round (including Renshaw and Rundle)...but wowowowowowow is right.

 

Hopefully the area guys know what they're doing.

 

The Cubs always know what they are doing. Good to see them taking a chance on a guy with big time potential.

[Laura]

Wow, does anyone think this is a good idea?

 

Paying an 11th-round HS pitcher coming off TJ surgery $1M+? I hope they put a horse tendon in that arm of his.

 

I like that the article spells out that the deal was basically signed two days before the draft. It's a little amusing that moneyball talked about overdrafting guys and pre-signing them to cheap contracts vs. underdrafting guys and signing them to expensive contracts.

[texascub]

I don't know what a normal elbow would look like post-op, but that is one huge incision in the photo of him doing rehab.

[Outshined_One]

Wow, does anyone think this is a good idea?

 

Paying an 11th-round HS pitcher coming off TJ surgery $1M+? I hope they put a horse tendon in that arm of his.

 

I like that the article spells out that the deal was basically signed two days before the draft. It's a little amusing that moneyball talked about overdrafting guys and pre-signing them to cheap contracts vs. underdrafting guys and signing them to expensive contracts.

 

The Angels did the same thing with Nick Adenhart in the 2004 draft, where they threw a boatload of money at him despite being a 14th rounder.

 

That's turned out quite well for them so far.

[Neuby]

Hopefully the Cubs high spending keep going it would be nice to get most of draft picks signed and score big in Latin market .

[Laura]

Wow, does anyone think this is a good idea?

 

Paying an 11th-round HS pitcher coming off TJ surgery $1M+? I hope they put a horse tendon in that arm of his.

 

I like that the article spells out that the deal was basically signed two days before the draft. It's a little amusing that moneyball talked about overdrafting guys and pre-signing them to cheap contracts vs. underdrafting guys and signing them to expensive contracts.

 

The Angels did the same thing with Nick Adenhart in the 2004 draft, where they threw a boatload of money at him despite being a 14th rounder.

 

That's turned out quite well for them so far.

 

Indeed, Adenhart's tearing up the Midwest League. Did he have TJ surgery, too?

 

Hopefully we'll look back on the Colvin - Samardzija - Huseby draft and marvel at the Whiz-Kid-Wilkins' unorthodoz wallet-opening spending spree.

 

I guess we should just enjoy it at the pre-minor league level, since it's been made clear that no high-level (ie, MacPhail cackling over how he'd never sign Guerroro, etc) free agents will be signed by the Cubs at the MLB level. A few million on the draft, a few million on Neifi, Rusch, who cares? Someone's bound to pan out.

[Outshined_One]

Indeed, Adenhart's tearing up the Midwest League. Did he have TJ surgery, too?

 

Yep.

 

Link

 

With a letter of intent signed to attend North Carolina on a baseball scholarship, along with Tommy John surgery on an 18-year old arm, Major League teams shied away. The Los Angels Angels of Anaheim were the only team that showed interest in Adenhart.

 

Angel’s area scout Dan Radcliff and director of scouting Eddie Bane remained persistent, selling Adenhart and his family on the fact that the Angels are professionals and have a rehab plan that will get Adenhart healthy and on track to reach the Major Leagues.

 

Selected in the 14th round of the 2004 draft and receiving a signing bonus of $710,000, the Angels sent Adenhart to Tempe to rehab.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Bud Selig has got to HATE the Cubs right about now.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Granted, the difference between Adenhart and Husbey is that Adenhart was a consensus top-10 pick before his TJS and Huseby was a virtual unknown. To me, this is definitely more risky than the Adenhart surgery.

[Jon]

Somebody is going to be buying their team dinner for a while.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Granted, the difference between Adenhart and Husbey is that Adenhart was a consensus top-10 pick before his TJS and Huseby was a virtual unknown. To me, this is definitely more risky than the Adenhart surgery.

 

After readng a bit more, it appears Huseby was really highly thought of his sophomore year (first round material). I guess he's lesser known because his injury came during his junior year while Adenhart's came in his senior year, allowing Adenhart one more year exposure. It's still awfully risky and Adenhart got half the bonus that Huseby did. Hopefully the Cubs get some results out of the risky Samardzija/Huseby duo.

[n l doormat]

http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/pro_baseball/article/0,2820,TCP_24442_4815139,00.html

 

 

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry later treated Huseby and his father to a steak and crab-leg dinner at a sleek downtown establishment.

If Hendry was eating, that must have cost a fortune. Hope Huseby didn't lose any fingers during dinner.

[CuseCubFan69]

Somebody is going to be buying their team dinner for a while.

 

And then Hendry's going to put him in the pen until the surgery. He should be ready by the spring.

[texascub]

Somebody is going to be buying their team dinner for a while.

 

And then Hendry's going to put him in the pen until the surgery. He should be ready by the spring.

 

Until the surgery? He's already had the surgery and he's pitching again already. He supposedly was hitting 93 just before the draft in a bullpen session.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA.com[/url]"]According to Wilken, Huseby made four appearances, totalling five innings. Pino wanted Huseby so much, he followed him and his team across the state to Willston (located about halfway between Tampa and Jacksonville) on the hope that Huseby would pitch. He didn't that day, but Pino saw three of his four outings. The Cubs also were able to sneak in crosschecker Sammy Hughes to see Huseby, and Hughes saw his fastball sit in the 90-93 mph range during his one inning of work.

 

In April—just before Huseby pitched in his first game for Martin High this year--the Cubs obtained positive medical reports on Huseby, now listed at 6-foot-7 and 210 pounds. They also had an in with Rodgers, a long-time friend of Cubs general manager Jim Hendry who once coached high school ball with Hendry in the Miami area in the early 1980s. Rodgers set up a workout for Huseby and the teams pursuing him, which also included the Orioles, Cardinals and Mets. At the workout, Huseby showed the same fastball velocity, touched a 94, and threw a hard 78 mph curveball while showing a feel for a changeup.

 

...

 

Huseby's family said it would take first-round money for the righty to bypass college, and the Cubs had enough of a track record on Huseby (including crosschecking him this spring) to feel comfortable rolling the dice.

 

Huseby has the same advisor as Samardzija.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Jason (Stuart, FL): I thought this would be bigger news, but what about the Cubs giving an 11th round pick, Chris Huseby, 1.3 million dollars to sign? He just came off Tommy John surgery too, so do you think it was smart?

 

Jim Callis: He apparently was lights out when he returned late this spring, and the clubs who saw him liked him. I've asked a couple of other teams about Huseby, and they both pointed out that Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken's track record is as good as anyone's. The Cubs are throwing a lot of money around in this draft, and they can afford to. On one hand, you could say that's excessive, but on the other, you could say that they have money to burn and are trying to get creative to add talent.

[Guest]

Jason (Stuart, FL): I thought this would be bigger news, but what about the Cubs giving an 11th round pick, Chris Huseby, 1.3 million dollars to sign? He just came off Tommy John surgery too, so do you think it was smart?

 

Jim Callis: He apparently was lights out when he returned late this spring, and the clubs who saw him liked him. I've asked a couple of other teams about Huseby, and they both pointed out that Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken's track record is as good as anyone's. The Cubs are throwing a lot of money around in this draft, and they can afford to. On one hand, you could say that's excessive, but on the other, you could say that they have money to burn and are trying to get creative to add talent.

Hmm...where did I hear that first? :D

[CubsWin]

So after learning what we have learned about Huseby, does anyone still consider this signing shocking?

 

I'm not saying they should or shouldn't, just asking. It seems like a decent gamble to me considering their lack of higher round selections. Is that the consensus or no?

[Outshined_One]

So after learning what we have learned about Huseby, does anyone still consider this signing shocking?

 

I'm not saying they should or shouldn't, just asking. It seems like a decent gamble to me considering their lack of higher round selections. Is that the consensus or no?

 

I'll agree with the notion that this pick is a good gamble, but that the dollar amount was surprising.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

So after learning what we have learned about Huseby, does anyone still consider this signing shocking?

 

I'm not saying they should or shouldn't, just asking. It seems like a decent gamble to me considering their lack of higher round selections. Is that the consensus or no?

 

I'll agree with the notion that this pick is a good gamble, but that the dollar amount was surprising.

 

That's my assessment as well. It's a gamble, but one the Cubs could probably afford to make.