Mavericks: The Life of a Rebel Baseball Agent!

[Texasrangers13]

First off, welcome and thanks for stopping and reading this.

The following diary will be slightly based off the book License to Deal (Jerry Crasnick's insider look at agents.) We will focus in on 5 players at the beginning that our agency has contracted. The agents at KTV are as follows,

Player Agent: Daniel Kearns

Player Agent: Matthew Tyner

Recruiter: David Villarreal

Kearns and Tyner both serve as our players agents with Kearns representing the AAA and AA player, while Tyner represents 3 A level players.

In the coming days I will reveal who the players are and how the agency came to represent these players.

Today I will introduce our first two players.

_____________________________________________________________

March 8th, 2003

David Villarreal had been visiting a player at USC attempting to get him to become the agency's first player, the player ultimately declined but on March 8th Villareal opted to visit Loyola Marymount and visit with draft prospect 1B Josh Whitesell.

Josh was a lanky Left-Hander who was projected to go in the first 10 rounds of the draft as a junior however Josh had no advisor, this is when Villarreal stopped by and visited, everything went well, and Whitesell told Villarreal he'd be calling in the next week with a descision, Josh did just that and on March 13th he called and asked if he could meet with Kearns in Houston while the Lions were set to play the Cougars of Houston.

_____________________________________________________________

March 23rd, 2003

Josh Whitesell got off the teams bus and promptly was greeted by Matt Tyner and David Villarreal both dressed in tuxedos and prepared to get Josh's word of approval.

After 2 hours of discussion Josh Whitesell became the first client of the agency that would be from this day forth known as KTV (Kearns, Tyner, Villarreal). In exchange for there advice on draft day he would give the agency 3.5% commission on his signing bonus, and a 1% cut of his yearly paycheck.

_____________________________________________________________

March 30th, 2003

With the first client under Tyner's belt, it was Kearns turn to get one of his own, Arizona State's LF Andre Ethier had been making noise hitting .377 and walking 1.7 times per K. Ethier had two things going for him, an incredible eye, and incredible talent, however he did not have an advisor "agent".

Kearns and Villarreal dropped by and made their pitch, thankfully they were the first to reach Ethier who would sign on with KTV later that day. Two days later, Octagon's lead recruiter stopped by only to be stopped short by Ethier informing him he had committed to KTV and wouldn't be changing.

Ethier deal was the same as Whitesell's, and both players’ paths would cross on June 3rd.

_____________________________________________________________

June 3rd, 2003 (Day One of the Player Draft)

KTV had arranged for Whitesell, and Ethier as well as their families to fly out to Dallas, and listen to the draft live with the agency. This way both players had a say in contracts etc...

10:30 CST (Draft begins with Delmon Young being selected)

10:41 CST end Round 1.

10:42 CST (Oakland's Director of player development Keith Lieppman calls the agency to ask if Andre Ethier is going to allow the team to reselect him after draft him in the 37th round in 2001, Ethier will allow it, and Lieppman goes on to say that Oakland is interested in taking him in the second round, Kearns goes into business mode. "Andre is my prized prospect, we want the best offer you can give him or I would recommend not bothering drafting him, he wants to play, and he wants to play ASAP. Lieppman and Kearns agree to a 3-yr deal with a $580,000 signing bonus, with a potential for $300,000 in contractual agreements.

10:45 Oakland round 2 Pick 62, Oakland selects Re-Draft ID 239 Ethier, Andre a LF out of Arizona State.

"Oakland selects Ethier LF Arizona State"

The rented conference room at the Wyndham Anatole explodes with excitement, KTV as commission will receive $20,300 of the bonus and up to $3,000 in contractual rights.

11:27 The Expos Adam Wogan calls with a simple question "Would Whitesell be interested in playing for the Expos." Tyner replies quickly, "We see no problem if you can get us above $100,000 in a signing bonus, quickly both sides agree to a $120,000 bonus.

11:31 With the 177th selection the Expos select Player ID: 1035 Whitesell, Josh a 1B out of Loyola Marymount in LA, California.

Another $4,200 in the bag and KTV is on its way. All three men have set aside a large enough sum of cash to keep it's agency afloat until the agents get a man onto the 40-man roster which may be sooner than thought.

Ethier accepted one of the smallest bonuses in the round however he was selected higher than was thought, and was quite pleased.

Whitesell also accepted a smaller bonus to be selected a round higher than was projected.

Both players reported that year to SS-A, with Ethier going to the northwest to Vancouver, and Whitesell going northeast to Vermont. This was when the similarities ended.

Ethier spent 10 games in Vancouver hitting .390 before being promoted to Kane County and playing 40 games where he hit .272. Andre spent 2004 at High-A, and he continued to hit well, batting .313 for Modesto, Oakland is more than pleased with him and he will play with Midland in 2005.

Whitesell however struggled to get off his feet, in 49 games he hit .246, and his agent called regularly reassuring him of his role. After a smooth spring training Whitesell moved to the SAL and the Sand Gnats of Savannah in 113 games Whitesell hit only .250 but he ripped 15 HR's and the organization opted to resign him to a $24,000 deal which his agents received $1,200 (5% since there was no bonus). Whitesell will join Potomac for 2005.

_____________________________________________________________

PLEASE NOTE the players and the bonuses from the draft received are correct/as are the stats, however everything including the 2005 performances of the players are 100% based off MVP!

I appreciate any and all comments!