I would like to see your opinions on the need for an agent.

The need differs greatly depending on who the player is. It also differs greatly depending on who the agent might be.

top ten round picks need an agent

Dibble--not necessarily --many families have lawyers and accoutants in their family

Are you speaking as an agent???

ssdad,
Here’s my take. First I think it is somewhat different coming out of high school vs. college. Like Dibble said, if you are sure your son is a top ten pick I would suggest you get an advisor...or...If five or more agents are calling you, you probably need an agent/advisor. If you received a generic letter or two in the mail, you probably don’t.
I dealt with the advisor out of high school and he was very helpful in advising me during the draft and the negotiations. That was high school and now that my son is a junior in college and will be draft eligible this spring ....he’s handling it alone but he still asks for my advice. Selecting an agent/advisor is a very personal thing so I found that not many players or parents are eager to recommend one.
Fungo

I agree with Fungo's rule of thumb:

quote:

...If five or more agents are calling you, you probably need an agent/advisor. If you received a generic letter or two in the mail, you probably don’t.

IMO, an advisor can be very helpful to a HS player and family during the months before the MLB draft. Once drafted, a College or HS player with a good contracts attorney is a very good thing!

Just because agents/advisors are calling does not mean a player will get drafted at all in any round. Good example, a player whose dad called me completely convinced he was top 5 round material based on some one had him ranked in their top 100 hs players. The player was 5-9, big turn off to mlb scouts in the first place and then asked 2nd round money. No MLB scouts had done in home visits or requested medicals. The player went undrafted and is currently sitting the bench in college.

Dibble, The added smiley face was suppose to be an indication of a humorous statement! Sorry it was too subtle.

Actually you cant change a minor league contract one bit, MLB contracts yes.

a good agent/advisor can be vital when determining the players market value when asked about mlb scouts about signability.

can you say Matt Harrington ( Still unsigned)

Isn't is true an advisors role continues after the contract is signed as the player agent? They must provide additional benefits post-contract, don't they?

Player Agents

http://www.angelfire.com/vt/prospectwatch/index111.html

ss dad,
We found the advisor very helpful. My son's advisor started working with him the summer of his Junior year. (High School) His advisor was our "pipeline" in regards to what was happening outside of our immediate geographic area. Not being from a "hotbed" of baseball activity, he was instrumental in notifying scouts when my son would be playing in their area. He was instrumental in determining what pro workouts would be valuable to attend and which ones to pass on when there were duplicate dates scheduled for workouts. Once my son was drafted, he was instrumental in being the "buffer" during the negotiation process. Negotiations are not easy. Now, the best part, he placed absolutely no pressure on my son. He didn't care if he signed out of high school or if he decided to use his college scholarship. He simply presented the offers and made recommendations. After my son signed, he was instrumental in obtaining card and equipment contracts and provides a number of other services.

Now, as previously stated, the key is to find someone good. Interview a few advisors, and if they aren't compatable with your son and your family, interview more. Selecting an advisor is a committment on both parts. Good luck to all.

My son didn't get an agent untill after his rookie season, I would recomend getting an advisor prior to your SR HS season.

This is a timely conversation as I have been reading up on advisors on the site this morning. Yesterday, my son, a junior in high school, was given a name and number of an advisor and asked to call him. The high school coach told my husband that a couple of other advisors had called inquiring about my son also. What do you look for or ask about when talking to these advisors? I see that some people think you need them, others think you don't. If anyone can offer us some advice on how to pick one, or even not have one, it would be appreciated. If you don't feel comfortable answering on the board, private messages are welcome. Thanks for any advice.