Astros pay Jacob Nix $1.5m, so should MLB punish them?

[soxhop411]

@pgammo: Astros essentially admit wrong paying off $1.5m to Jacob Nix. So why does MLB not punish them? Still Stros paid $1.5m to unsigned draftees

@keithlaw: If MLB let the Astros give Nix the full amount, they just tacitly admitted that the entire draft pool system wont survive a challenge.


Recap for those who missed it from this seasons draft
Brady Aiken was the Astro’s #1 overall pick, along with Jacob Nix in the 5th Round. Astros agreed to a deal with Nix for a $1.5m bonus as long as Aiken agreed to a $6m deal. Astros backed out of the deal with Aiken after they “found" a UCL injury. Along with backing out they tried to renegotiate Aiken’s bonus. That failed and they ended up not signing either player. Jacob Nix filed a grievance against the Astro’s, and they settled today
http://www.astroscounty.com/2014/12/astros-and-jacob-nix-reach-settlement.html

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

is there any confirmation on the settlement amount? quick perusal around internet has the amount as confidential. I.e., http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-settlement-with-draftee-Nix-includes-5959260.php

I don't know why settling a grievance would affect the bonus pool rules. First, it seems like the settlement was structured to comply with the rules. But in any case, he bonus pool rules really are supposed to cover players who are signed and enter the system. Baseball could easily say that it doesn't cover aettlements if the player ends up not joining an organization.

 

[MakMan44]

Gammo reported that he got the $1.5 and MLBTR posted that.

 

[P'tucket rhymes with...]

is there any confirmation on the settlement amount? quick perusal around internet has the amount as confidential. I.e., http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-settlement-with-draftee-Nix-includes-5959260.php

I don't know why settling a grievance would affect the bonus pool rules. First, it seems like the settlement was structured to comply with the rules. But in any case, he bonus pool rules really are supposed to cover players who are signed and enter the system. Baseball could easily say that it doesn't cover aettlements if the player ends up not joining an organization.

If I'm drafting behind the Astros in the fifth round and I was interested in Nix, I'm not happy with this.  Intentional or not, they manipulated the pool.

 

[MakMan44]

If I'm drafting behind the Astros in the fifth round and I was interested in Nix, I'm not happy with this.  Intentional or not, they manipulated the pool.

Everyone does this. The Sox do it. The new system basically forces teams to manipulate the system. It's why I think MLB needs to let this die, it points out a big glaring flaw in their system and I'm surprised it didn't happen before.

 

[singaporesoxfan]

So just to be clear, Nix gets the $1.5m but is not on any deal with the Astros? Does that make him a free agent?

 

[MakMan44]

So just to be clear, Nix gets the $1.5m but is not on any deal with the Astros? Does that make him a free agent?

I don't think so. Everything points to him reentering the draft next year. 

 

[Hee Sox Choi]

I don't think so. Everything points to him reentering the draft next year. 

So it's a pretty sweet deal for Nix, right?  He gets 1.5 mil and can get another bonus next year.  I guess he can't go to college though since he got 1.5 mil but he can go to a J.C. or play Indie League ball?  He'll get 2 bonuses and it shouldn't really affect his future so I would imagine that Nix is pretty happy with the settlement.  

 

[LondonSox]

I'm a bit confused as to his status.
I have seen several places say if he goes to JUCO he re enters the draft but I've seen suggested but can't find confirmation that if he goes to independent league he is a free agent next year.
 
I'm confused as to that, and MLB would HATE that. Nix will get more money than the draft, on top of the 1.5mm. Though as he did nothing wrong maybe hard to argue.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Gammo reported that he got the $1.5 and MLBTR posted that.

 
Given Gammo's twitter history, I wouldn't be surprised if he got the original $1.5M offer and the settlement amount confused.  Here is the twitter conversation going on - https://twitter.com/pgammo/status/544971747070447617 - a couple of people have asked Gammo to verify that it was for $1.5M and he hasn't done it (to my knowledge).

Also, according to this article - http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2014/12/17/aiken-nix-can-prevent-astros-from-drafting-them-again/ - MLB doesn't even have to inform the other clubs, so there are limited number of sources who would have that figure (if Gammo had one of them, wouldn't he mention the source by now)?
 
Weird.