2012 Astros Shadow Draft

This is by far the toughest I have done in the three years I have been doing this. In the past, I took the best player available and didn't factor in signability. I just thought the checkbook would open up and pay the talent because the money was saved at the MLB level and this would replenish the farm system.

This year, there is a limit to spending and I don't get to negotiate with the players. That is why I took the #2 player on my board with the #1 overall pick. I took Carlos Correa over Luc Giolito due to the fact I know he will sign for less than slot. The Astros also picked Lance McCullers, who was the top talent on my board in the supplemental round, so I took him as well. I know that the Astros will get these two signed.

After that I took targets. I like local product Mitchell Brown. Rio Ruiz slid due to an injury but is a top 2 round talent or better. I love Christian Walker and thought about taking him in the 3rd round. Then I took a couple senior signs that I know I could get signed and open up a little more cash for later picks. Then I was stumped. I didn't know what to do here. I didn't want more seniors and I have no idea which top talents were signable, so I looked at who other teams picked in this range. I love Tomas Nido's bat and I really expected Kevin Ross to go to school but they are the kinds of guys that are worth later picks here. Danny Poma is another senior I liked. Since the 10th round is only worth $125k, I took a chance on a top draft target.

After the top 10th, I loaded up on hard to sign talents and a few college and JC guys I like and see as signable. Not many though. I'm sure I won't get more than 15 guys from this draft signed. That's fine. I have a lot of talent in the system and one year like this won't hurt. I do need to look at doing it differently next season.