Mike Moustakas signs!!!!!!!

[KC Royals Nation]

Another link - MLBlogs:

draft.mlblogs.com/geeking_on_the_draft/2007/08/moustakas_and_v.html

[KC Royals Nation]

Danny Clinksdale saying he got "some exciting text messages from Derek Ladnier earlier (Wednesday) night"..... ;D

[KC Royals Nation]

According to a poster at RR (no link available)....

BA reporting JoPo saying Moose got a straight $4 million bonus, or, the same Gordon got two years ago in the same spot. That seems fair.

[KC Royals Nation]

It's confirmed via a Royals official - Moustakas Has Signed.

[ror1fan]

YES!!!!!!!!!

[gilgameche]

well after the stinker of a game tonight I needed this news to cheer me up

[KC Royals Nation]

alexgordon07roy said:

well after the stinker of a game tonight I needed this news to cheer me up

Ain't that the truth.

[ror1fan]

admin said:

alexgordon07roy said:

well after the stinker of a game tonight I needed this news to cheer me up

Ain't that the truth.

Amen to that.

[KC Royals Nation]

Ladnier, Glass, and Moore all talking about Moustakas (paraphrasing, forgive me)

"Any negotiation takes on its own being. Every one of them is different. Some of them earlier, some later. Ultimately....you obviously want to get the player signed, in a perfect world. Go through the process. Go through the timetable that's allowable. Unfortunately, it was 10 minutes before the deadline. That's our goal with every player we select. Regardless, the fact is, he's a Royal now.

Question for David Glass.......Give us your thoughts on the family's position on having to go a little over the slot deadlines to get the player you wanted?

"Alex Gordon signed for $4 million, premium guy in draft, coming out of college. Mike was premium player coming out of high school. Two years later, we feel they were very comfortable coming out of the draft" (Ladnier?)

Question......for Ladnier......What kind of timetable for Moose to reach the bigs?

"We have to go through the process. He was a great high school player. Good players put themselves in a position to play in the MLB level faster than other guys, challenging other hitters. Mike just needs to go out and play. Mike's a highly skilled player, with a tremendous amount of talent. There's no reason for him not to get into the system, and maybe get to the MLB level. Ultimately, when he gets to MLB, he'll be a player that is here for a long time."

For Derek......how was the conversation with Mike? Was he pleased to finally have it done?

"Mike actually called me after we had agreed to terms. YOu could hear the exceitement in his voice. He wasnted to be a Royal, proudly represent this organization. Proud to put uniform on. We were looking for exceptional talent and character. We felt like that from Day 1, watchin ghim play. We felt an opp. to get to know him from the Spring. He's going to rep. us, very well, I can assure you that.

Any other signings? (For Derek)

Not today.

John from B.A. - How did new deadline work for industry?

We all work under deadlines, different deadlines for different levels. When you have the deadline starting you in the face, it forces both parties to be very aggressive. We all knew there would be a lot of last minutes signings. Everyone was operating as they normally do, it's going to get done. The only other deadline would have been prior to the close period when they didn't go to school (?). I think they work fine.

John from B.A. - Were there more last minute signings? (?) Pace even more frenzied than you thought?

The number of players signed suggested there was some sort of a frenzy to get it done. Wait and see mode first, but everyone wanted to get it signed. It forces everybody to get it done, the player and the team.

[KC Royals Nation]

^^^^The above was a paraphrasing of the press conference which took place on the Royals Post Game show. Sorry about the spelling errors (etc.), if anyone has any questions, let me know. I'll try to give some more updates later tonight.

[gilgameche]

is he heading to Arizona ASAP?or when will he head to the minors?

[KC Royals Nation]

Last 24 hours, crazy? (Question) DEREK LADNIER:

They have been. there has been a lot of work that has been done from the selection. We came down here for the AFLAC showcase and came up to Irvine, we have been camped out here since Saturday. A lot of conversation, dialogue with family and Scott Boras, his group, trying to get this thing done. From Day 1, we felt confident that this player wanted to be a Royal. That's why he was selected. It's human nature to have a little doubt, because things can go wrong. #1 thing to accomplish - the lines of communication were always open, that enabled us to get something done.

Question: We were getting phone calls from agents not involved in your negotiations (BA, MLB.com) saying the Roayls and Moustaskas were far apart, even from early in the afternoon. It was a sure thing deal would not get done........Things were nhot going well. Boras claimed Moose would go to school. Was there a "Big Movement" in the last few hours to get this thing done?

LAdnier: It's a misconception. The player and the family have to make the decision. It was stated clearly by all parties involved that this player wanted to go play. It's very important to do it behind closed doors so things don't get out and people start speculating what's going on. The only people who really knew what was going on was Boras/Moose/Moose's Reps/Dayton/Ladnier/Glass family. If you can keep it private among partise, then you can get somethign done.

Question from Fred Patek: What are your plans for Mike's future? Where will he go within next couple days?

Ladnier: Player comes to K.C. to get physical. As soon as possible (undiscussed with Moose in detail). After that, we'll take a look at what he's been doing. J.J. Picollo willg et involved with that. There's a process he has to go through with them, to see where he is as a player....before he is comfortable to say "this player is ready to go". Potentially, he can go out and play....maybe at the end if it is possible. If not, that's okay. There's an Inustructional League where Moose will get plenty of AB's. There will be an early program in Spring Training. Ultimately, we need to sit down with player, see if his arm's in shame, hands' in shape.

Has he been playing this summer?

No. He's been on a workout routine that Soctt Boras and his Corporation have put together for him (preetty comprehensive). We need to look and see where he is. We're never going to put a player out there when they aren't ready to play.

There weren't many public things said. Boras compared Moose to A-Rod (best high school bat since A-Rod). What can you tell us about him? how excited are you to have him? What kind of talent is he?

*I hope that he is (like A-Rod)* This young man really has an advanced approach to hitting. I've made comparisons to Billy Butler....he's got that type of advanced hitting skills. He's also a very good defensive player. This man's a winner, he's always been involved on a winning team, he's played with good players, he's grown up arouind a good crop of players. As a guy for us, he may not necessarily have to go level to level. His skill level will be that where he will advance quicker than most. Competitive nature will be where he can advance quicker than most. Ultimately, when he gets to the big leagues, he will be Mike Moustakas. I won't compare him to any player.

Fred Patek: Young men with this type of ability will get to bigs in 2-3 years because they have talent, can handle pressure, swing bats well, naturally gifted athletes, can play game well on a professional level. Once that happens, it's easy to say "this man is ready".

Clinksdale: His high school principal said all along that he was "absolutely confident" that Moose would sign & become pro ballplayer.

Ladnier: We got a chance to meet him one day. His principal happened to be there at a meeting at his high school. He thinks the world of Moustakas. He had nothing but wionderful things to say about him as a person off the field. also, he's had a chance to see him play for four years. He's seen him play more than any of us.

Clinksdale: Do you still feel comfortable wroking with Scott Boras clients?

Ladnier: It comes down to relationships with player and with Scott Boras and his group. There's been a very professional atmosphere between them and the Kansas City Royals. The palyers that we've had interest in, we've had the opportunity to get to know them. As organization...."is this player ready to play and sign that contracT?" Ultimately, the day's not over until you sign all those players. Hopefully, we can operate that way and take the best player. Utlimately, signiability is an issue. We were confident he was ready to play and ultimately become one of core players we have at the ML level. Moustakas will be another piece of that puzzle. Ultimately, our goal is tow in a World Championship in K.C. The only way we can do that was by drafting Moustakas.

ML contract for Moustakas?

No, it is not.

[KC Royals Nation]

*That* was some fast typing.

[gilgameche]

Moose,Butler and Gordon.The Future is BRIGHT

[ror1fan]

Sweat