Signing Deadline Thread
by laxtonto on Aug 14, 2008 4:47 PM EDT
132 comments
I figured it would be a good idea to make a single thread to dump all of the late minor league signings ...
So far it seems like the major stumbling blocks are with Alonso, Crowe, and Hosmer.
Dykstra's hip might lead to problems aswell.
Looks like Melville and Posey has signed...
So out of the top 11, Alvarez, Hosmer, Matsuz, Alonso, Crowe and Smoak are unsigned. Feilds, Dykstra and Cole, fill out the rest of the unsigned 1st rounders.
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My predictions..
Dykstra doesn’t sign and Crow probably doesn’t sign but all the other first rounders do. Alonso might be a close call though, rooming w A-Rod in NYC is a pretty sweet fallback plan.
Keep in mind that since Josh Fields is a college senior the Aug 15 deadline doesn’t apply to him. The deadline for him signing is one week before the start of the ‘09 draft, although I’d expect his deal to get done by, at worst, sometime this winter.
Yanks 2nd or 3rd rounder Scott Bittle is probably heading back to Ole Miss for his senior year. The Yanks are saying hes got a bum shoulder and, accordingly, should take a lower bonus. Bittle disagrees.
BA has a rundown of all of the first ten rounders unsigned and their predictions..
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/news/2008/266692.html
They also are reporting that the Giants signed 3rd and 4th rounders Roger Keishnick (Tex Tech OF) and Brandon Crawford (UCLA SS) for overslot bonuses.
Plus they say the Reds are going to give 500k to a darkhorse of sorts
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=423
by nms on Aug 14, 2008 4:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Daniel Webb
It says Hultzen is going to attend UVA not a surprise, but what about Webb and Kentucky?
by AZDBACKS on Aug 14, 2008 5:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Webb fell to round 12
so that is why he wasn’t mentioned in that BA piece.
Kentucky baseball coach John Cohen left to take over the Miss St job after legend Ron Polk retired. Because of this Webb will not be going to Kentucky. If he goes to college it will be Okaloosa-Walton CC, in Florida, or Miss St.
by nms on Aug 14, 2008 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
News
Has there been any news on him possibly signing or going to college recently?
by AZDBACKS on Aug 14, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
coming into the draft
he was considered signable, but right before it his dad put out a big figure and since then it has looked like Webb is probably not going to sign.
I’d bet on him turning down the D-Backs and Miss St (and Kentucky) and spending one year at the CC and trying his luck next year.
by nms on Aug 14, 2008 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bubba Meyer
He was another UK commit. Any news on him?
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 14, 2008 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
still headed to UK
Apparently Boston has been throwing 7 figures at him but he is still considered unsignable.
Kentucky hired assoc. head coach (and pitching coach.. and top recruited) Gary Henderson to take over the program right after Cohen went out. He managed to keep most of that class committed.
Interestingly, Henderson’s background is as a West Coast guy, which you don’t see a whole lot of in the SEC
by nms on Aug 14, 2008 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Response
I thought BP reported a few weeks ago that it looked like Boston and Meyer had a deal done for $2M . . .but I haven’t heard anything else.
by mrkupe on Aug 14, 2008 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BP has reported a lot of signings that they say
are done deals that haven’t come through yet.
We’ll see.
by nms on Aug 15, 2008 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are also notable picks from the later rounds
It looks like the Yanks won’t pony up to sign 16th round Indiana HS LHP Blake Monar away from Indiana University. Monar is a curve and slider specialist who has dominated this summer for the elite Midland (Cincy) Redskins travel team but his velo has been down, partly due to a case of strep throat.
UGA looks like it will get two of the top HS pitchers in the state onto campus. Micheal Palazzone and Cecil Tanner onto campus. Both were early round arms who fell for money reasons and the Braves took fliers on the local guys late.
UGA looks to get real lucky this year by getting those two plus two 3rd round position players into school and getting 10 round junior RHP ace Trevor Holder to return.
Braves 17th rounder Mark Pope is a similar case, but not as good as Tanner or Palazzone, he probably won’t be bought away from Ga Tech.
The Braves signed 14 of their top 15 picks but almost no one after that.
The one early guy they didn’t sign, RHP JJ Hoover from an Alabama CC, has been showing some sweet velo and is an All-Star in the Cape Cod League. He is a WVU commit, it is uncertain if he will sign.
by nms on Aug 14, 2008 5:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Damn
I took Palazzone early in my shadow (4th round I think). Tat hurts me farm system.
Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.
by doublestix on Aug 14, 2008 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Melville signing is huge for KC
Assuming Hosmer signs, they basically got two top 15-20 overall draft prospects. I wonder where/if Melville will rank on BA’s Top 100.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 14, 2008 5:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Have you heard anything about Beau Brett or Ryan Curl?
Probably going to school, but maybe?
Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.
by doublestix on Aug 14, 2008 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought both
Had pretty much said they’re going to school. I think George Brett even said it was highly unlikely Beau would be signing, which makes me wonder why they would even bother drafting him.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 15, 2008 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!
Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.
by doublestix on Aug 15, 2008 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
because you have 50 rounds to use
so you draft some guys you know are just going to fill out your Appy League team and get cut next spring and you draft some guys you know won’t sign.
I would’ve drafted Brett too if I was the Royals. Why not? On the off-chance he changes his mind and wants to sign.. then super. If not, it is still a classy tip of the hat to your greatest player and a good way to signal that you are going to follow this kid and scout him in college. It is common practice.
by nms on Aug 16, 2008 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, haven't heard anything
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 14, 2008 6:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Crow would be foolish not to sign
He’s a guy who went through a major change in stuff mid-way through college, in addition to normal pitcher concerns. Washington wants to get him signed, of course, but they have less to lose than he does. Dare I say he has above-average Matt Harrington potential for a college pitcher. He deserves a big bonus, but if he’s willing to play in the independent leagues if he doesn’t get more than twice Matusz’s money, then screw him.
by aap212 on Aug 14, 2008 6:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
Don’t really get why they’re demanding this much money, from all reports it seems like he’s just not ace material and would be a midround pick in a lot of other draft classes.
He could be in the big leagues by next year, which would mean it would only be a matter of a few seasons before he inks a long-term deal where he REALLY makes money. Don’t know why he’d want to gamble that for a few million up front.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 15, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't really know where you first sentence comes from
or your second sentence either.
by nms on Aug 15, 2008 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It came from my brain
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 15, 2008 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So there's the problem....
Sorry. Just kidding. Couldn’t resist.
"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile
by Boxkutter on Aug 15, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well where did your brain get the idea
that Crow would be a mid-round pick in other draft classes and where did your brain get the idea Crow would be in MLB next year?
by nms on Aug 15, 2008 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
From what I have read
That this was a particularly weak draft class for pitchers, and that Crow would not be a top ten pick in other seasons.
I’ve also read that many felt Crow would taste the big leagues as soon as 2009. He’s considered close to MLB ready. Just not that big an upside – more of a mid-rotation guy.
You can refute or disagree, that’s fine, I’m not claiming to be an authority.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 15, 2008 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was #9 this year
So you’re saying that in another year, he would have been #14? That doesn’t seem like the most significant of differences.
Matusz signed for 3.2 million. Does he really think that he’d get upwards of 6 million? I haven’t been following these negotiations at all, but that doesn’t seem very reasonable
www.loftylantern.com
by OldProspects on Aug 15, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Matusz got an initial bonus
of 3.2 but it was part of a Major League contract.. meaning he starts his career on the 40 man roster and thus is paid alot more in yearly salary than a guy in the minors and he starts using options quicker and thus hits MLB quicker and then arbitration quicker and then FA quicker.
Crow might just be seeking a minor league deal with a 6 mil bonus.
by nms on Aug 15, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
when you said "mid-round"
I took that to mean “mid-round”.. as in 5th round or something.
Any college player “could” taste the bigs as early as late ‘09 but its hard to say which ones really. Lots of it depends on how quick a guy’s org wants to promote them.
Crow wouldn’t be ready to be a MLB regular in ‘09, but sure maybe he could’ve gotten some coffee.. who knows.
by nms on Aug 15, 2008 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about my initial points?
This thread seems to have been hijacked by one wacky response.
by aap212 on Aug 15, 2008 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mid-round
Means 15th pick or so. Point being he’d probably drop quite a bit in next year’s draft.
And he’d get a taste of the big leagues in 2009 – the larger point being he’d probably be in the big leagues for good very soon, meaning he’d have the opportunity to make really good money pretty quickly.
I think you’re getting hung up trying to want to be a contrarian instead of seeing the bigger point.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 15, 2008 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well
Mid-Round doesn’t actually mean that.
I means “middle rounds”, so thats why I was confused.
by nms on Aug 16, 2008 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how does it not mean that?
The 15th pick is in the middle of the round. I fail to see how you could interpret “mid-round” to mean fifth round, considering there are more than ten rounds to the draft.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 18, 2008 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
because after around
round 10 the dropoff in worthwhile talent is so steep everything from that point onwards is generally regarded as “late round”.
Its not just me, look at how scouts and analysts use the term “mid-round” and you’ll find it generally refers to the “middle rounds” like 4-7 or so.
by nms on Aug 18, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So basically this was a mis-understanding
www.loftylantern.com
by OldProspects on Aug 18, 2008 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well if true
That’s silly. “Mid-round” should refer to middle of the first round and “middle rounds” should refer to the 5th round.
Sorry for the confusion.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 18, 2008 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Pirates
sign Robbie Grossman. Good sign for the Bucs. I like this new management team and what they have done this year. Now get Pedro.
by Robinson Checo on Aug 14, 2008 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll get right on that
www.loftylantern.com
by OldProspects on Aug 15, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
really?
Has this happened? Or is it a prediction?
by naropean on Aug 14, 2008 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he was in town for a physical
deal probably done tomorrow
by FirebatM3 on Aug 14, 2008 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh ok
I heard he was at the Frisco game with Rangers officials last night. Just making sure I didn’t miss an official announcement of his signing.
by naropean on Aug 14, 2008 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
now it's official
Robbie Ross signs with the Rangers
by naropean on Aug 15, 2008 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BA is reporting it now
Good news for Pitt fans.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 15, 2008 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
any info on these
brett hunter- pepperdine…this guy wants 2mill, top 10 pick $$
brent warren – commited to oregon st
elgie/maronde
by Asfan4ever723 on Aug 14, 2008 8:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
they got hunter, 1.1 mil
i’m sure you saw that on AN though
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
by flipgatey3 on Aug 16, 2008 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Others
Signings:
TJ House, CLE – 1 mil, according to Tulane site
Bryce Stowell, CLE – 725k, according to rivals.com
Jordan Danks, CHW – 500k
Non-signings:
Brett Mooneyham, SD – turned down 1.4 mil (!)
Jason Kipnis, SD – Pads wouldn’t go overslot
by aCone419 on Aug 14, 2008 9:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jason Esposito
Jason Esposito, 3B, CT HS is turning down 1.5 million from the Royals and will attend Vanderbilt
by adschofield on Aug 14, 2008 10:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nuts
Can’t believe a 17 year old has the guts to turn down $1.5 mill.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 15, 2008 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It worked for Pedro Alvarez
He turned down a million from the Sox when he was a teenager.
by aap212 on Aug 15, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
True
but I wonder how often it works out overall.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 15, 2008 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Education helps
I can’t blame a player for wanting an education. In the grand scheme of things perhaps some people value their youth and desire higher learning more then a higher paycheque.
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift
by King Billy Royal on Aug 15, 2008 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No doubt
and from all accounts he comes from a very wealthy area of Connecticut, so $1.5 mill probably doesn’t carry the same weight as it does with the majority of draft prospects.
Can’t fault the kid for wanting an education, but he did admit that he told the Royals what it would take for him to sign, they drafted him and offered that amount, and then he still turned it down. Kind of a shady move.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 15, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Meh, you can go to school if you flame out in the minors. I’d find it very difficult to turn down 1.5 million, valuing youth or no.
by soup du jour on Aug 15, 2008 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who wants to start college at 30 years old?
And I doubt he could defer his Vandy offer for 8 years or so.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 15, 2008 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you didn't blow your 1.5 million on Humvees and bling
Going to college at 30 years old is far from the worst fate in the world.
I think the big difference boils down to spending 3 years being a big man on campus nailing hot coeds vs. long crap bus rides and living in the podunk towns where the low minors teams are located (I say this having grown up in a MWL town).
by jibs on Aug 15, 2008 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gerrit Cole
According to a poster on another site who is pretty accurate with Yankees information, Cole will be going to college
by mtk52983 on Aug 14, 2008 10:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Gerrit Cole chooses College over Yankees
Gerrit Cole heads to UCLA
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/first-round-pick-gerrit-cole-opts-for-college-over-yankees/
by Kazmir2657 on Aug 14, 2008 10:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good.
Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.
by doublestix on Aug 15, 2008 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yankees 2009
with getting an extra pick for Cole if he doesnt sign, can the yankees set a record for most picks before the 2nd round in next years draft? They have quite a few FA’s
by krgrecw on Aug 14, 2008 11:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If they decided to give up on 09, yeah
Main Pick (1)
Gerrit Cole (1)
Damaso Marte (2)
Ivan Rodriguez (2)
Jason Giambi (2)
Bobby Abreu (2)
Andy Pettitte (2)
Mike Mussina (2)
Also:
2nd Round (1)
Scott Bittle (1)
http://yankeesmtom.blogspot.com/
by hallofamer2000 on Aug 15, 2008 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I take that back
They could actually still win without all of them. The only one there that might come back is Moose.
http://yankeesmtom.blogspot.com/
by hallofamer2000 on Aug 15, 2008 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Highly doubt they'll offer arb to everyone
because I could see a few of them accepting.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 15, 2008 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pettitte and Mussina will either resign or retire, so no picks there. I doubt Giambi or Pudge would be offerred arbitration, so no picks there. I have to imagine they’ll resign Abreu. Marte too I suppose. $6 million for his preformance is pretty darn good.
by 17843 on Aug 15, 2008 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
???
Pettitte can always go back to Houston. I bet Giambi and I-Rod can get multi-year deal elsewhere. Why would the Yankees re-sign Abreu when he’s clearly declining and will want a multi-year deal? Marte has been awful with the Yankees.
http://yankeesmtom.blogspot.com/
by hallofamer2000 on Aug 15, 2008 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow
You HONESTLY think Pudge and Giambi are going to get MORE money by declining arbitration and going elsewhere? NO. They are on the downside of their career and probably a want a last shot at a title anyways, and they also know that they’ll have AT LEAST a SLIGHT chance of doing that by staying in New York.
Seriously, don’t get your hopes up.
Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.
by doublestix on Aug 15, 2008 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Disagree
I doubt the Yankees would want either of those guys for a multi-year deal, but it’s possible other teams might have interest. Do you think Pudge would want to be a back-up catcher if Posada comes back healthy? Do you think Giambi would accept arbitration only to sit on the bench behind Mark Teixeira? Both of these guys are likely to get better opportunities elsewhere. Mussina should also get offers for a multi-year deal given his performance this season, maybe from an NL team (I’m looking at you, Mets), that might not be offered by the Yankees. I think those 3 guys, along with Abreu, would have legitimate reasons to decline arbitration. Marte has not exactly pitched like a 6 million dollar pitcher since being acquired, so it is possible they could offer him arbitration or try to work out a 2-3 year deal. Some of these guys would probably be type A, definitely Abreu and possibly Mussina, Marte, Giambi, and Pudge.
http://mvn.com/milb-yankees/
by lemonjello on Aug 15, 2008 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Response
Nobody has any clue about Posada’s arm right now. The most likely scenario IMO, without further information, is that he’s restricted to 1B with perhaps a possibility of spot catching. There’s really no reason to risk losing his bat again.
The Yankees do not have Mark Teixeira. They do, however, have Jason Giambi, who has produced for them and will probably do okay next year for them as well if they want him back. The Yankees have a lot of needs . . .why would they break the bank on Tex when they have Posada/Giambi to handle 1B/DH for them, a combination which they wouldn’t find themselves in a bidding war over.
Why would the Yankees want to lose Mike Mussina? He’s had an above-average season and is about as reliable as they come these days . . .they don’t have enough good arms as is and you’re suggesting that they part ways? I’d give him 2-3 years without much complaint.
Abreu is still an effective player and he’ll get offers. But again, why not the Yankees? They don’t have reasonable in-house options to replace him. If you’re concerned about the draft picks, any decent replacement for him would cost you a draft pick in return.
Marte, who knows. They might just get the picks from him as he’s a valuable pitcher to a lot of teams. Then again, the Yankees have use for a lefty out of their pen too.
It’s pretty obvious that some people here are just really hung up on this fantasy of the Yankees getting a bazillion draft picks in the first round and blowing like $20-25M on the draft next year. But in doing so they’d be absolutely crippling their team, and – MOST IMPORTANTLY – unnecessarily so. Rebound years from Jeter, Cano, a healthy Wang, and the development of more young pitching should make the team very competitive next year if they keep all these guys, especially if they plan on going out and signing some pieces to turn weaknesses into strengths (hi C.C. Sabathia!).
by mrkupe on Aug 15, 2008 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some people can say things better than I can
And mrkupe is one of them.
Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.
by doublestix on Aug 15, 2008 2:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Completely agree, except
Sabathia has openly said that he wants to play on the west coast. I am thinking Dodgers or Angels for him.
But overall, the Yankees want to compete every year. They are not going to let several talented players walk away without trying to retain them. Also, look at the Yankee history. The Steinbrenner family (I don’t care if George is calling the shots or not) has been very loyal to their players. Other than Giambi and the steroid issue, these guys will get their opportunity to stay, especially Mussina. I imagine they would even bring back Pettite if he wants back.
by count sutton on Aug 15, 2008 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Posada can't play catcher
then how valuable is he as a 1B or DH? If he keeps on hitting like he did last year, he’d obviously be quite valuable, but how much is a 37 year old 1B/DH with a career .857 OPS worth? If you can’t fully rely on him, you might want to consider looking for alternatives at 1B/DH, especially if you want to be a contender.
Jason Giambi is a terrific hitter, but will be 38 next year and last played 100 games in 2006, and last played 140 games in 2003. After Giambi finishes his 7 year 120 million dollars contract, the Yankees have an option on him for next year for 22 million dollars. I don’t know how high the bidding war for Teixeira will go, or how big of a discount the Yankees might be able to persuade Giambi to give them, but it seems like they should at least consider him, especially if the price is somewhat similar.
www.loftylantern.com
by OldProspects on Aug 15, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hosmer
KC will sign him. Moore understands that they cannot let draft picks slip away because of bonus demands. I imagine a deal will be announced late tonight.
by count sutton on Aug 15, 2008 10:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I think Hosmer wants to sign too. It will get done.
Crow and Cole are the only first rounders I think in serious jeopardy of not signing.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 15, 2008 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Twins
Signed 6th rounder B.J. Hermsen and 14th rounder Blayne Weller.
$600K or so for Hermsen, not sure on Weller.
by Diggity Dino on Aug 15, 2008 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Khiry Cooper
5ht rounder for the Angels looks pretty set on playing football at Nebraska based on the comments around here.
Baseball Instructor - www.frozenropes.com
by HuskerBob on Aug 15, 2008 11:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
re
just a general thought as Fields remains unsigned……
So much for Fields reaching the majors this year. Remember, he was the one guy who people pegged as a guy who could be in the majors by the end of the year. That is highly unlikely now. They pegged Casey Weathers as that type of guy last year and were wrong there too.
Fields seemed like more of a quick fix pick by Bavasi … the quick fix being that he would possibly be ready by the end of the year and could help out, maybe doing his part in saving Bavasi’s behind. They took him for all the wrong reasons. And now Bavasi is gone.
by rdf8585 on Aug 15, 2008 11:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Fields doesn't have a deadline to sign though
Since he was a college senior, he can hold out as long as he wants. He can sign anytime before a week prior to next year’s draft.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Aug 15, 2008 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Such an awful pick
The only time it might make sense to take a reliever early is when you are in “win now” mode, and even then it’s questionable.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 15, 2008 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Melville has signed.
Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.
by doublestix on Aug 15, 2008 12:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
$1.25 mill bonus
I think that’s the currently the highest bonus given out after the 1st round.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 15, 2008 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not Quite
McGeary got $1.8 last year in the sixth round.
by seabass on Aug 15, 2008 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm talking about this year
obviously it’s not the highest ever.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 15, 2008 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Harold Martinez
Anyone heard any possibility he’d forgo college and sign?
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Aug 15, 2008 2:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Chances are low
He wants first-round money. But the Rangers are still trying to bring his demands down.
Pretty clearly the first time he has ever looked at a web site. "And there are readers' comments at the bottom! And advertisements for products! And best of all, I won a free iPod!"
-Ken Tremendous on Mike Downey.
by BudLight on Aug 15, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Matusz signs
"The Orioles and first-round pick Brian Matusz have agreed to terms on a major league deal that would immediately insert him onto the club’s 40-man roster and toward the top of the organization’s list of pitching prospects, The Sun has learned.
Matusz, a left-hander out of the University of San Diego and the fourth overall pick in June’s amateur draft, will receive a $3.2 million signing bonus."
More @ http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-osdraft815,0,5410825.story
by rdf8585 on Aug 15, 2008 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Give me some opinions, guys.
I am an unabashed Indians fan. In the past 2 days, the Indians have signed four draftees to overslot deals. Trey Haley from the second round, Zach Putnam from the fifth, TJ House from the sixteenth, and Bryce Stowell in the 23rd. It looks to me like the Tribe spent some money, maybe too much, for a group of prospects that fell because they were perceived to be signability risks. have they hit the mother load for just thrown money out the window?
by sdtribefan on Aug 15, 2008 4:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Somewhere in between?
In sum, they spent about 4 or 5 million dollars on a handful of good prospects. I’m not familiar with any of them, frankly, so I don’t know if these particular players were good bets to go over-slot on, but the concept of a team paying these ransoms is reasonable: the reason these players are asking for – and getting – the extra money is because they’re very good prospects. If one or two or more of this group of players becomes major leaguers, then it’s probably worth the one-time bonuses. If none do, then your team just wasted 5 million dollars, which won’t exactly bankrupt them. In other words, it’s a calculated risk with a reasonably high upside and without too significant of a downside. Which is pretty much everything in the prospect world.
www.loftylantern.com
by OldProspects on Aug 15, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trey Haley
He is the real deal. Only fell to the second round because of signability concerns. With Gerit Cole opting for UCLA over the Yankees, I’d rank Haley as the third best high school pitcher to sign, behind Tim Melville and Jake Odorizzi.
by StickRat on Aug 15, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Everyone's entitled to an opinion
but it sounds like you’re much higher on Haley than most, as I don’t recall anyone saying Haley was the third best prep pitcher in the draft. Seems like he’s in the tier below Melville and Odorizzi, along with guys like Seaton, Lobstein, Ross, and Montgomery.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 15, 2008 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You’re right, I am higher on him than a lot of ranking sources. The Indians were willing to shell out a mil for him though, which tells me I’m not alone in believing he is one of the premier pitchers in this year’s draft class. Ross is the best lefty HS pick with the exception of DeVall. I know a lot of people are high on DeVall, but I’m speculative of uber-strikeout HS lefties who only throw 90. Lobstein and Montgomery are both pretty raw. Seaton may grow into his slider, but is still raw compared to Haley. Trey’s stuff is all crisp, especially the varying movements on his fastball, and he is a dart thrower control-wise. So yeah, I really like him a lot.
by StickRat on Aug 16, 2008 6:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lobstein signs with TB
“The Rays have signed the top pick in the second round, Coconino High (Flagstaff, Ariz.) lefthander Kyle Lobstein, for $1.5 million. That’s the highest bonus in that round this year and the equivalent of slot money for the 20th overall pick..”
- Jim Callis of BA here: http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=433
by rdf8585 on Aug 15, 2008 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Pirates
sign a late round HS pitcher for 900k… maybe that means Scheppers won’t sign?
The Yanks just signed a useful SS prospect too in Garrison Lassiter
by nms on Aug 15, 2008 5:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rusin returns to school
any info on brett hunter/zac elgie/maronde/guilmet??
UK Press Release …
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky first-team All-Southeastern Conference pitcher Chris Rusin has decided to return to UK for his senior season, he announced on Friday.
"We are extremely excited to have Chris Rusin returning to Kentucky in 2009," Kentucky head coach Gary Henderson said. "Chris is one of the premier pitchers in the nation and his leadership and experience will be counted on in 2009."
http://collegebaseball.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=2308&tid=114871499&mid=114871499&sid=1169&style=2
by Asfan4ever723 on Aug 15, 2008 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Baseball America
Reporting Reds have come to terms with Yonder Alonso – no terms yet
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 15, 2008 11:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
More from BA
A’s sign Pepperdine OF Brett Hunter for a seventh round record $1.1 million.
Yankes sign supplemental pick P Jeremy Bliech for $700k
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 15, 2008 11:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hunter is a pitcher
he was asking for 2mill
if not for an injury he wouldve been a top 1st half rd pick, hopefully he’s healthy now
by Asfan4ever723 on Aug 16, 2008 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Updates
Alonso signs for $2M bonus, $4.55M major league deal
Smoak signs for $3.5M
Cole does not sign, as expected
Dykstra signs for $1.15M
No word on Pedro
by mrkupe on Aug 16, 2008 12:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Link for alvarez
do you have a link about alvarez. i cant find that anywhere
by Tbird44 on Aug 16, 2008 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
http://draft.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/08/alvarez_a_pirate.html
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 16, 2008 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hosmer signed
No terms have leaked.
Looks like Crow and Cole are the only first rounders not to sign, correct?
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 16, 2008 12:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have not seen anything on Josh Fields
but since he was a senior, he has until a week before the 2009 Draft to sign
by mtk52983 on Aug 16, 2008 7:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
$6 mill bonus!
Wow. Looks like KC was determined to get their man.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 16, 2008 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Crow
I imagine both sides really have to be kicking themselves on this one. The Crow camp sat absurdly high for way too long, and the Nats in turn tried to hold to slot way too long.
One would imagine that if just one side had budged just a little earlier, a deal would’ve gotten done.
by mrkupe on Aug 16, 2008 12:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
your last comment is spot on
at the last minute both sides blinked… well, half-blinked.
The Crow/Hendrix camp came down from 6-8 mil to 4 mil and Bowden and the Nats moved up from 3 mil to 3.5 mil but by the time they got close there was just an hour or so left in the signing period and that wasn’t enough time to work out the last half-mil of difference plus other details.
by nms on Aug 16, 2008 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hard to swallow for Nats fans
You’ve got to question management if the team misses out on signing it’s 1st round draft pick due to a difference of $500,000.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 16, 2008 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hard to swallow for Crow too
You’ve got to question your adviser if you miss out on a year of development with a MLB team due to a difference of $500,000.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Aug 18, 2008 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe don't believe 3.5
Keith Law says he wouldn’t necessarily believe Bowden that they offered 3.5.
by aap212 on Aug 18, 2008 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gotta agree.
The Nationals are possibly the biggest losers of the draft. The Yankees too, but they drafted Cole before he decided that he wasn’t going to go pro no matter what they offered. You could probably list the Padres here too.
Hopefully Washington really opens the checkbooks next year, since they’ll have two picks in the top 10, including, most likely, #1 overall.
by abbreviatedman on Aug 16, 2008 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Response
Hard to blame the Yankees for Cole changing his mind. And other than Cole, the Yankees did okay . . .they put together some solid packages for some other difficult signings.
The Nationals really blew it though as they let a top 10 overall pick out of their grasp because they evidently thought enough of him to give him $3.3M but not quite enough to give him $4M. And who knows how ownership is going to feel about the draft process next year . . .are they going to want to blow that much money at once on two premium level talents? I suspect that one of those picks is going to scream signability.
by mrkupe on Aug 16, 2008 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
It seems the Cole stuff was genuinely about Cole wanting to play at UCLA.. and not about money.
The Angels lost out on a third round OF, now at UGA, this way. Zach Cone (who played at Jeff Francoer’s HS) told the Angels before the draft he’d sign for (insert $ here) but then after they picked him he changed his mind. The Angels increased the offer significantly to the point that even Cone’s parents (his dad is an ex GaTech and NFL RB and his brother, Kevin, plays FB at GT) told him he should take the money but Cone turned it down again.. saying that he just wanted to go to UGA
by nms on Aug 16, 2008 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Same for the Royals
They picked Jason Esposito in the 7th round after he told them he’d sign for a “life changing” amount, which he said was $1.5 million. They picked him, offered that amount, and then he decided that he still wanted to go to Vanderbilt.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
by eazyb81 on Aug 16, 2008 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Nationals have an amazing valuation system
Look at how much money they spend on guys like Guzman, Belliard, and Young. Those are small deals for veterans, but would be huge amounts of money to spend on amateurs. Bridging the gap with Crow would have cost the same as what? A month of Paul LoDuca?
by aap212 on Aug 16, 2008 4:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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