Although much of the pre-draft speculation coming from Seattle Mariners' blogs and beat writers was that Duke recruit and top prep catcher Steven Baron had agreed to a pre-draft contract with the team, a recent report in the Miami Herald shed some doubt that Baron's signing is a fait accompli.
Speaking with the Herald's Joseph Goodman, Baron, who is from Miami, indicated that unless the Mariners could agree to a contract worth around $1.3 million, he would likely decide to honor his commitment to play at Duke. Baron added that Duke had raised the value of his scholarship offer to 90% of the tuition for the 2009-2010 year.
Generally, the dynamics of a draft negotiation between an MLB team and a committed high school prospect leave college programs powerless to influence negotiations, but Duke's enhanced scholarship offer is one of the few options the Blue Devils have in convincing Baron to choose school over Seattle.
"I have until August 15 to negotiate, and we'll see what happens," Baron said.
Baron was drafted 33rd overall, the first pick in Compensation Round A, in the MLB Draft last Tuesday.
Duke head coach Sean McNally said he knew that Baron and two other prospects, Marcus Stroman and Cameron Coffey, would be drafted, but still expected them to enroll at Duke. Stroman, a shortstop, was drafted in the 18th round by the Washington Nationals, and Coffey, a pitcher, went in the 22nd round to the Baltimore Orioles.
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