Hosmer takes the cash

A late night text message to ASU head coach Pat Murphy had us all believing the unbelievable.

Then, a second text message shortly thereafter made it all...well...believable again.

After getting a last minute extension from Major League Baseball, (former) ASU standout prospect Eric Hosmer signed a deal with the Kansas City Royals.

"So close, so close," Murphy told the East Valley Tribune.

Hosmer, who hit .470 for his high school in Plantation, FL last season, got an extension of the signing period by MLB after they became backlogged with other signings. He was hellbent on getting a $6 million signing bonus while the Royals would only offer him $5.5 million. When it became apparent that he wouldn't get the money he wanted, Hosmer texted Murphy to say he was going to school.

The extension then came through, and so did the Royals with the extra $500,000. It's almost not a surprise; this is his agent's (Scott Boras) M.O.

On the bright side, as expected, Jason Kipnis didn't sign with San Diego and he'll be back. That give the baseball team four major returners: Kipnis, Mike Leake, Raoul Torrez and Matt Newman.

Also, stud basketball commit Johnny Coy, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 7th round, didn't sign either. Even more exciting is that he'll play both basketball and baseball at Arizona State.