Rabelo rejects first offer

By JOHN C. COTEY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 12, 2001

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Mike Rabelo thought he would spend Monday in Lakeland. Instead, he spent it at home in New Port Richey.

With a counteroffer now in the lap of the Detroit Tigers, the former Ridgewood star and 1998 North Suncoast Player of the Year is awaiting word on when his pro baseball career might begin.

Rabelo had hoped to sign a deal this past weekend with Detroit, which drafted him in the fourth round last week after an All-America career as a catcher at the University of Tampa.

"We're waiting for them to call back," Rabelo's father, Greg, said. "They've got a first-, second- and third-round pick to deal with too."

Detroit drafted five players ahead of Rabelo.

Greg Rabelo said the first offer "was way, way below where it should be. So Paul (Fernandez, the family's adviser) went back and told (the Tigers) what we needed to get it done."

He added that the Tigers' scout said the counteroffer "sounded good."

Though Greg Rabelo didn't indicate the amount his son is seeking, it is expected to be between $250,000 and $350,000 -- the average contract for fourth-rounders last year.

"We're just looking for fair money, no one is trying to get rich here," Greg Rabelo said. "We want fair market value. Before the draft, teams asked what it would take to sign him and Mike told them it would take whatever is fair for whatever round I go in."

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