I think the Boras affect is diluted this year...

[3rd Inning Stretch]

Due to the strong draft crop next year, the Boras affect is less relevant this year at the top of the draft. For guys like Appel, they are not gonna sit out another year without college to go back to. For a guy like Bryant, what else can he do next year that will raise his stock? Not much...and the draft class is much stronger next year, so even with another amazing season by him, he probably goes worse than 4 next year (if he's sitting at #4 this year and taken by the Twins). So even if he asks for over slot next year, he probably gets less than what slot would be this year if taken by the Twins. The HS OF are not advised by him...not sure who Stewart has, but the HS will always have the leverage of college and dont have to worry about the draft class next season as they wouldnt be eligible anyways. Manaea is dropping, not worried about him at #4. So if Appel was somehow around at #4, or more realistically Bryant, I wouldnt worry about negotiation with Boras one bit this year.

[IdahoPilgrim]

I think it all depends on what people are willing to sign for. As I understand it, part of the goal in this new slot system was to reduce the impact of "signability" on the selection process. It doesn't seem to have had that effect. If anything it has intensified it, as the penalties for going over-slot in the aggregate give GMs greater incentive to ascertain signability, either overslot or underslot, before making a selection.

Edited May 9, 2013 by IdahoPilgrim