Mets Fail To Sign First-Round Pick Kumar Rocker

Updated Report: August 1, 2021, 17:01

As reported by Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel on earlier in the day, and hinted at over multiple reports in weeks prior, the Mets did not come to terms with first-round pick Kumar Rocker before the 5 p.m. signing deadline on Sunday.

Passan reports that Rocker will not return to Vanderbilt and instead “begin his pro career,” presumably in independent leagues or overseas. He’ll enter the 2022 MLB Draft.

“This is clearly not the outcome we had hoped for and wish Kumar nothing but success moving forward,” Mets general manager Zack Scott said.

The disagreement from both sides reportedly came over the status of Rocker’s medicals, particularly around his elbow and shoulder.

Rocker’s agent, Scott Boras, refuted that worry in a statement to Bob Nightengale, saying Rocker had independent medical teams determine his MRIs after the 2021 season showed “no significant change” when compared to 2018 MRIs.

The team allegedly had a handshake agreement with Rocker to give him a $6 million signing bonus, but once they were able to bring him in for a physical, the team backed off that price. Rocker’s camp reportedly didn’t back off their asking price.

More details are sure to emerge in the coming days and hours.

Original Report: August 1, 2021, 13:32

Remember the Sunday before the All-Star Game in Denver? The Mets got their future deGrom in Vanderbilt ace Kumar Rocker and we all celebrated? It was a fun time. We all thought our rotation was set for the next decade. Well, then something went wrong.

Concerns about Rocker’s health soon arose, and now the Mets are trying to negotiate down from their agreed-upon deal, which included a $6 million signing bonus. Now, per ESPN‘s Jeff Passan, the Mets “do not plan to” sign their top draft pick before the 5 p.m. draft pick signing deadline Sunday, barring any change from the Mets side.

If the Mets do not sign Rocker, who is represented by agent Scott Boras, before the deadline, which multiple reports are saying may happen, the Mets would get the 11th pick overall in next year’s draft. In addition, Rocker would have a couple options: return to Vanderbilt (where he can make money under new name, image and likeness laws), pitch in an independent league or overseas, or simply wait until next draft to get picked.

Now could the Mets draft him again? Yes. Would they, though? After this debacle, I think Steve Cohen and the Mets management would be more careful and do their due diligence on potential draftees before making their decisions. Per reports, Rocker refused a pre-draft MRI, so there was no way fans and teams could’ve known about any potential injuries until after the draft.

The team also apparently agreed to the $6 million bonus for Rocker when they knew he’d fall to them, then drafted other players knowing they’d have a limited bonus pool for remaining draft picks.

Now while the possibility of an 11th hour signing remains in play, per Passan, it’s looking likely that the Mets may have been rocked by Kumar Rocker. And after trading away Pete Crow-Armstrong in the Javier Baez deal, the Mets will be without their top draft picks from the past two drafts. That is not the way to restock a farm system, which the front office has said is a priority.