Pirates' No. 1 Draft Pick Pedro Alvarez Won't Sign Contract

Agent Scott Boras Claims Deal With $6 Million Bonus Not Valid

POSTED: 3:27 pm EDT August 27, 2008

UPDATED: 6:53 pm EDT August 27, 2008

PITTSBURGH -- Pedro Alvarez, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft, was placed on Major League Baseball's restricted list Wednesday after his agent claimed the player's contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates is not valid.

The deal is being disputed by agent Scott Boras, who says it was struck after MLB's midnight signing deadline on Aug. 15.

"This claim was not raised on the evening of the 15th when we informed Mr. Boras that Major League Baseball had confirmed that the contract was submitted in a timely fashion," Pirates president Frank Coonelly said in a statement. "Mr. Boras asserted this claim several days later, after all of the draft signings had become publicized."

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The contract for Alvarez, a third baseman from Vanderbilt University, includes a $6 million signing bonus.

The Pirates said Boras told them that Alvarez has declined to sign the paperwork and will not report to his assigned minor-league team unless the deal is renegotiated.

"The Pirates are confident that the contract reached with Pedro Alvarez was agreed to and submitted to Major League Baseball in a timely fashion and properly accepted by Major League Baseball," Coonelly's statement said. "In fact, the contract between the Kansas City Royals and Eric Hosmer, another Boras client, was submitted to the office of the commissioner after our contract with Pedro was submitted. Mr. Boras is apparently satisfied with the $6 million bonus that he secured for Mr. Hosmer and has not challenged the validity of that contract."

Boras did not comment Wednesday, saying he will file a grievance and allow the MLB players' union to speak for him.

Michael Weiner, the union's general counsel, said the extension of the signing deadline "was done without notice to or consultation with the players' association, despite a firm deadline having been established through collective bargaining."

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