*Close hangs up*
"Who was it," asks Brady Aiken.
"Nobody," says Casey Close.
"What did you do that for?" Aiken asks.
"Well, Brady, have a seat." *Aiken sits on Close's knee* "The Astros think you could possibly get injured, and they would like to give you - and me, don't forget that part ha ha ha - less money because of that risk. They say you have an abnormally small UCL. And that's ridiculous. You're an elite pitcher. They're the ones who took you with the #1 overall pick. You're the first high school pitcher to be drafted first overall since 1991. There are inherent risks. They knew those risks. You're an elite pitcher. Hell, Jeff Luhnow said you were the most advanced high school pitcher he'd ever seen. Why would he not bet on you?"
Aiken thinks, "To be clear, I am not injured. But the Astros think I could be at some point down the road, and so they have decided to cut their offer by the amount they're paying Jesse Crain to not pitch for them."
"Correct," Close replies.
"Screw them."
Go to Page 187.
