The Mets and their No. 1 pick Kumar Rocker already have an understanding in place for a $6 million signing bonus, sources told The Post.
The Vanderbilt righty was generally expected to go in the first few picks in the draft, but fell to the Mets at No. 10. One reason he may have slipped was, as The Post’s Zach Braziller heard from a source, that Rocker was making strong financial demands beyond the slot value of a pick.
A second reason is that he did not sign a re-select consent to allow the Rockies access to him with the No. 8-overall pick. Colorado had picked Rocker in the 38th round in 2018, but Rocker decided to attend Vanderbilt out of high school rather than sign a major league deal. A player cannot be re-drafted by the same organization without his consent.
So, Rocker was available with the No. 10 pick and the Mets agreed to go beyond the slot recommendation of $4.74 million.
The Mets took pitcher Kumar Rocker with the 10th pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. Getty Images“It was about a war to get him down [to 10th] because we felt the Mets were a good pick for him and a good environment,” Scott Boras, Rocker’s agent, told The Post.
Asked if a deal was done, Boras replied, “The Mets have a strong flavor for him.”
Boras added: “There is an understanding among the participants about what he expects [financially] and what they [the Mets] expect.”
