Beede Rhymes With -- You Guessed It -- Greedy!

With sheer angst, Jays fans impatiently awaited to see if their 1st round pick (and highest selection) Tyler Beede in the 2011 draft would sign with the team. Reports from a month ago led many to believe a deal was in the works, while news leading up to yesterday's midnight deadline suggested a complete 180. Just after midnight, while the Jays were in action against the Mariners in Seattle, it was confirmed that Beede in fact did not sign with the Jays, thus opting to follow through on his letter of intent to play with Vanderbilt University.

Little did I realize until this morning that Beede was the only one of 33 1st round selections who did not sign with the team they were drafted by. The Jays were offering nearly $2.5 million (all figures U.S.), while Beede and his camp were aiming for $3.5 million. Now, I fully understand wanting to obtain an education (I'm sure excessive partying and chasing skirt were a big component as well). But let's be realistic -- it's not often 18-year olds have an opportunity to hit the financial jackpot, and Beede forewent that.

Now, Beede is not eligible for the MLB draft until 2014. For the everyday person, that's not a long time. But a potential professional athlete, that could turn out to be an eternity. I get Beede's thought process -- go back to school, get bigger and stronger, work on my stuff, get drafted higher in the draft, and thus realize a higher financial windfall. Motivating. Then again, he could run into injury problems, lose the passion and motivation, not be as dominant, and end up slipping to who knows where.

Need proof? How about another high draft pick by the Jays in former 2nd round selection (2009), pitcher and nearby hometown talent Jake Eliopoulos? His demands weren't met, so back in the draft he went. Well, a struggled season in 2010 led him to be drafted by the Dodgers in the 14th round. One year of pro ball and a pro contract already "thrown" away, he decided to once again refuse signing on the dotted line. Move forward another year, he failed to re-up his stock yet again, with the Jays of all teams ending up taking another flier on him all the way in the 43rd round. Surely enough, AGAIN he did not sign! So in a matter of two short years, Eliopoulos went from being a top selection with a guaranteed comfortable salary playing pro ball, to one who would be better served flipping burgers at McDonald's.

I don't know Beede, so I have nothing personal against him and hope he made the right decision. On the flip side, as a Jays fan, I wish nothing but success at failing for him. Talk to us in three years and let us know if you made a wise decision to pass up what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity over $1 million that may never be made up again. He better hope he was advised by the right people.

Pretty remarkable sporting landscape these days. Since when did raw 18 year olds earn the right to hold out for millions more when all that they are being based on is their talent and potential? Can't help but think "greedy" -- Beede, in my eyes, was just that.