Wait pays off big for Rays' top pick
By MARC TOPKIN
Published January 21, 2005
ST. PETERSBURG - The nearly eight months it took for Jeff Niemann to sign with the Devil Rays was a long time. But it won't seem like anything if the first-round draft pick has the type of career the team expects.
Niemann - finally - agreed to a deal Thursday that includes a five-year major-league contract and guarantees him $5.2-million, more than any of three players chosen before him.
Though the negotiations dragged, the Rays think Niemann, a powerful right-handed pitcher, was worth waiting, and paying, for.
"If he's healthy and he competes like we think he will, he's an upper-rotation starting pitcher in the major leagues," general manager Chuck LaMar said.
"We signed him on potential, and he has that. He has the God-given ability and the upbringing. He has the mechanics and the stuff. All the pieces are there for him to be an outstanding major-league pitcher. Now it's up to him. We would not have taken him where we took him, and we wouldn't have paid him the money we're paying him, if we didn't think he had the chance to be an outstanding major-league pitcher."
Niemann, 21, said there were times it seemed the negotiations might never end, but he never doubted he would get signed and didn't consider going back to school at Rice.
"I knew things were going to work out," he said. "I knew it was just a matter of time until things fell into place, and they fell into place perfectly. I'm not sure either side could ask for anything better."
Niemann probably couldn't. Despite being the No. 4 overall pick, he got a larger signing bonus, $3.2-million, than the players chosen before him, and a considerably larger guarantee: about $1-million more than No. 3 pick Philip Humber, fellow Rice pitcher and Met. If Niemann were to be in the major leagues during the entire five years, the deal would be worth close to $5.7-million.
Though teams traditionally try to "slot" their draft picks to pay the players based on the order they were chosen, the Rays were willing to pay more for the player they considered the best in the draft. It was the second-largest deal the Rays have given to a player they drafted, trailing only the $5.8-million top overall pick Delmon Young got in 2003.
Had Niemann signed last summer, he would have pitched in the minor leagues, had a chance for a September callup and participated in the instructional league program. Despite the lengthy layoff, Niemann, who is 6 feet 9 and weighs 260 pounds, said he is in great shape, having spent much of his free time working out with his former Rice teammates - and the rest getting very good at various video games.
"I could step up on the mound and go 100 percent," he said. "I'm not sure that I missed any steps. I feel like I'm ready to go."
Niemann is scheduled for a physical next week and plans to return to St. Petersburg shortly after to begin workouts, saying he is eager to soak up knowledge and hopes to advance quickly.
He will join the major-league team in spring training and is likely to start his pro career at either advanced Class A Visalia (Calif.) or Double-A Montgomery (Ala.).
Niemann was the nation's top college pitcher in 2003, going 17-0 with a 1.70 ERA and regularly hitting 97-98 mph. Arthroscopic elbow surgery and a groin strain impacted his junior season and dropped his velocity, but the Rays believed he was fully recovered by the end of the college season. Overall, he was 28-4 with a 2.41 ERA and 303 strikeouts in 2831/3 innings.
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Second baseman Roberto Alomar, who signed his one-year, $600,000 contract after passing his physical, said he is confident he can return to form if gets the chance to play regularly.
Alomar said his dropoff in performance the past three seasons (a .262 average compared with .306 in the previous 14) was the result of nagging injuries and limited playing time.
"I don't have any doubts," Alomar said. "I feel good, and I'm looking forward to it. ... I'm a positive guy and I feel I can go out there and put up some numbers and hopefully help this team win some games."
Manager Lou Piniella said he will make it a point to rest the 10-time Gold Glove winner, who turns 37 next month.
The Rays made space for Alomar on the 40-man roster when Major League Baseball allowed Josh Hamilton to be moved back to the restricted list.
Hamilton's suspension for multiple drug-policy violations, which started in February 2004, has been extended through the 2005 season. MLB officials have told him he could be reinstated during the season if he continues to stay clean.
Team officials continue to interview candidates for the radio announcing positions, with incumbent Charlie Slowes and TV pregame host Todd Kalas among the finalists.
Senate head rips MarlinsTALLAHASSEE - The Marlins want $60-million in state money to finance a new ballpark, a request the head of the state senate regards as blackmail.
A day after likening the team to "terrorists," Senate President Tom Lee of Brandon backed off that word but said he was angry the Marlins have talked to officials in Nevada about a possible move to Las Vegas.
"They're trying to blackmail us," Lee said. "If it becomes a question of which community wants the team bad enough, and which community is willing to pay the highest price for the sports team, you can count me out."
DELGADO TALKS: Carlos Delgado met with the Mets in Puerto Rico for a second time, a three-hour session that included the team's ownership and the first baseman's agent. Delgado plans to meet today with the Rangers.
ANGELS SUIT: The city of Los Angeles filed a brief Wednesday supporting Anaheim's lawsuit that claims the name Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim violates the team's stadium lease.
BRAVES: Second baseman Marcus Giles skipped arbitration by agreeing to a $2.35-million, one-year contract.
NATIONALS: Washington will play its April 14 home opener against Arizona at 7:05 p.m.
Information from Times wires was used in this report.