Post by ror1fan on Aug 13, 2007 12:29:07 GMT -6
Deadline for top Draft picks nears
Club have until midnight ET on Wednesday to sign prospects
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
The clock is ticking.
Thanks to the new rules in the most recent collective bargaining agreement, the signing deadline for the 2007 Draft class is coming up quickly. Gone are the days of the year-long negotiations, of the draft-and-follows. Now there are just over two months from Draft day until the deadline.
Here's how the new rule works: Teams have until midnight ET on Wednesday to sign their draftees. If a drafted player does not sign by Wednesday night -- and that includes having all the I's dotted and T's crossed, including physicals by that time -- they re-enter the Draft pool. If it's a college junior or a player headed to junior college, that means they will be eligible in 2008. For high schoolers who decide to attend a four-year college, they will have to wait until 2010 to enter the Draft odyssey once again.
Nothing has changed regarding college seniors. They still have until just before next year's Draft to sign or they re-enter the Draft.
The blow of not signing an early pick is cushioned somewhat under the new rules. If a team doesn't sign its first- or second-round pick, there is compensation, moreso than in the past. If, for example, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are unable to sign No. 1 pick David Price, they would get a comparable pick -- No. 2 overall -- in 2008.
The compensation for not signing a third-round pick is a sandwich pick between the third and fourth rounds.
As of Monday morning, 18 of the 30 first-round picks had signed with their respective clubs, with No. 14 pick Jason Heyward the latest to sign with the Braves on Sunday. That leaves 12 in the opening round who have yet to sign on the dotted line. Just what kind of impact this new rule has on everyone really remains to be seen. It will undoubtedly be easier to figure out how it worked out on 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning.
"This being the first year ever, I think some people weren't sure how this thing was going to turn out," one scouting director said. "I'm sure people will have situations that they'll be able to share after.
"I was extremely leery of this deadline to begin with. I thought it was made to be too comfortable. I wanted to see it unfold the first year. I think that dictated how some people drafted and others were unaffected by it. Some people would say it was business as usual, some would say you'd better be conservative. I guess we'll find out who calculated right and who miscalculated. We won't know until it's Wednesday. Some clubs that rolled the dice may come up empty, some may have done all right. The calculations will be really interesting. It'll be interesting to talk about in years to come."
This scouting director wouldn't mind seeing things going one step further. Why bother even having the process last two months? Moving things along even faster, he thinks, will be beneficial to all sides. "I'm seriously thinking about suggesting a July 15 deadline," he said. "That way, guys are out and playing or they're going to school. This way both parties can get on with what they need to do. But I don't know if it can be changed."
Before worrying about long-term plans, it's more relevant to figure out this year. Will those still out there sign in time? Here's the latest, and be sure to check in on the Draft Blog for updates on signings ... or the lack thereof.
1. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: David Price, LHP
Negotiations with No. 1 overall picks tend to take a long time, so it's not a real surprise this one is coming down to the final days. It seems likely that something will get done, but the smaller market Devil Rays may be less reluctant to go too far over slot than some other clubs will be. The Royals gave Luke Hochevar, last year's No. 1 pick, a $3.6 million bonus and a Major League contract.
2. Kansas City Royals: Mike Moustakas, 3B
GM Dayton Moore recently stated he was optimistic they'd get this thing done, but Boras has said that Moustakas is "an exception" to the slotting guideline. Just how far above the $3.1 million estimated slot for the No. 2 pick is Kansas City willing to go? If he doesn't sign, he could go on to USC for three years.
3. Chicago Cubs: Josh Vitters, 3B
Talks between the Cubs and the Vitters camp have been positive and there is confidence that a contract will be signed by Wednesday. One holdup could be the team and draftee right above this one. When similar players -- in this case two high school hitters -- are taken back-to-back in the first round, the second one often waits as long as possible to see what the first one gets.
5. Baltimore Orioles: Matt Wieters, C
Talks are ongoing between the Orioles and Scott Boras, Wieters' agent. Wieters was generally considered to be the top college bat in the Draft class, and as such, may be looking for an above-slot bonus to go along with a Major League contract. O's president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has stated that you have "to stay flexible and do what you think is in the best interest of the organization."
9. Arizona Diamondbacks: Jarrod Parker, RHP
Picks 9-11 are tied to each other because all three are high school pitchers. This may be an instance where one -- team and draftee -- is waiting for the others to blink, to set a certain standard. Parker is represented by Larry Reynolds and the D-Backs have dealt with him before, most notably with uber-prospect Justin Upton. Word was that GM Josh Byrnes was going to speak with Reynolds on Monday to see where things stood.
10. San Francisco Giants: Madison Bumgarner, LHP
Of all the top first-round picks, this one could be the front-runner to not work out. Rumor has it that Bumgarner is looking for Clayton Kershaw money. Kershaw, also a high school lefty, was the No. 7 overall pick in last year's draft and, by most accounts, was a much more polished pitcher than Bumgarner coming out of the prep ranks. Bumgarner is a University of North Carolina recruit, but there have been grumblings that he'll head to San Jacinto Junior College if he doesn't sign, so he can re-enter in 2008. Of course, that could be a bargaining ploy.
11. Seattle Mariners: Phillippe Aumont, RHP
This situation, in many ways, is the one that's the most surprising that it hasn't been resolved as of yet. As mentioned above, Aumont and the Mariners might be waiting to see what happens with Parker and/or Bumgarner before signing. Some think this one is all but official and it's fairly likely it will get done, but the staring contest among all three slots here may hold things up some.
12. Florida Marlins: Matt Dominguez, 3B
While the Marlins were able to recently sign second-rounder Mike Stanton, another high school bat, there's been no announcement about a Dominguez signing. Dominguez, a teammate of Moustakas' at Chatsworth High School in the Los Angeles area, does have a commitment to Cal State Fullerton, but the Marlins were still encouraged they'd be able to keep him from honoring that.
17. Texas Rangers: Blake Beavan, RHP
The Rangers remain "cautiously optimistic" about bringing Beavan into the fold and there was hope that the fact that Heyward signed -- the first first-round signee in quite some time -- would help break the ice. Beavan is a University of Texas recruit, but he was hinting at the possibility of heading to junior college if the Rangers can't convince him to sign.
27. Detroit Tigers: Rick Porcello, RHP
Porcello would have certainly been a top five pick -- perhaps even top two -- if it weren't for perceived bonus demands. The Boras-represented high school pitcher, believed to be the best prep arm in this Draft class, will definitely get an above-slot bonus if he does sign with the Tigers. Most think Detroit will step up and get it done, but while talks were on going, there was no common ground between the two sides at the end of last week.
29. San Francisco Giants: Wendell Fairley, OF
The Giants had three first-round picks. They signed pitcher Aaron Poreda a while ago and, as mentioned above, it is shaky whether they'll get Bumgarner into the fold. Fairley, a toolsy high school outfielder, seems more likely to sign by Wednesday. Perhaps the Heyward signing will help move that along.
30. New York Yankees: Andrew Brackman, RHP
There are a lot of variables with this one. Brackman was once considered to be a top-pick candidate, but what turned out to be a bad elbow really hampered him throughout his junior season at NC State. He's also a Boras client, though the agent felt confident an agreement would be reached. It's possible Brackman will need Tommy John surgery, meaning that even if he does sign, he likely won't pitch for the Yankees much until 2009.
Club have until midnight ET on Wednesday to sign prospects
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
The clock is ticking.
Thanks to the new rules in the most recent collective bargaining agreement, the signing deadline for the 2007 Draft class is coming up quickly. Gone are the days of the year-long negotiations, of the draft-and-follows. Now there are just over two months from Draft day until the deadline.
Here's how the new rule works: Teams have until midnight ET on Wednesday to sign their draftees. If a drafted player does not sign by Wednesday night -- and that includes having all the I's dotted and T's crossed, including physicals by that time -- they re-enter the Draft pool. If it's a college junior or a player headed to junior college, that means they will be eligible in 2008. For high schoolers who decide to attend a four-year college, they will have to wait until 2010 to enter the Draft odyssey once again.
Nothing has changed regarding college seniors. They still have until just before next year's Draft to sign or they re-enter the Draft.
The blow of not signing an early pick is cushioned somewhat under the new rules. If a team doesn't sign its first- or second-round pick, there is compensation, moreso than in the past. If, for example, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are unable to sign No. 1 pick David Price, they would get a comparable pick -- No. 2 overall -- in 2008.
The compensation for not signing a third-round pick is a sandwich pick between the third and fourth rounds.
As of Monday morning, 18 of the 30 first-round picks had signed with their respective clubs, with No. 14 pick Jason Heyward the latest to sign with the Braves on Sunday. That leaves 12 in the opening round who have yet to sign on the dotted line. Just what kind of impact this new rule has on everyone really remains to be seen. It will undoubtedly be easier to figure out how it worked out on 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning.
"This being the first year ever, I think some people weren't sure how this thing was going to turn out," one scouting director said. "I'm sure people will have situations that they'll be able to share after.
"I was extremely leery of this deadline to begin with. I thought it was made to be too comfortable. I wanted to see it unfold the first year. I think that dictated how some people drafted and others were unaffected by it. Some people would say it was business as usual, some would say you'd better be conservative. I guess we'll find out who calculated right and who miscalculated. We won't know until it's Wednesday. Some clubs that rolled the dice may come up empty, some may have done all right. The calculations will be really interesting. It'll be interesting to talk about in years to come."
This scouting director wouldn't mind seeing things going one step further. Why bother even having the process last two months? Moving things along even faster, he thinks, will be beneficial to all sides. "I'm seriously thinking about suggesting a July 15 deadline," he said. "That way, guys are out and playing or they're going to school. This way both parties can get on with what they need to do. But I don't know if it can be changed."
Before worrying about long-term plans, it's more relevant to figure out this year. Will those still out there sign in time? Here's the latest, and be sure to check in on the Draft Blog for updates on signings ... or the lack thereof.
1. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: David Price, LHP
Negotiations with No. 1 overall picks tend to take a long time, so it's not a real surprise this one is coming down to the final days. It seems likely that something will get done, but the smaller market Devil Rays may be less reluctant to go too far over slot than some other clubs will be. The Royals gave Luke Hochevar, last year's No. 1 pick, a $3.6 million bonus and a Major League contract.
2. Kansas City Royals: Mike Moustakas, 3B
GM Dayton Moore recently stated he was optimistic they'd get this thing done, but Boras has said that Moustakas is "an exception" to the slotting guideline. Just how far above the $3.1 million estimated slot for the No. 2 pick is Kansas City willing to go? If he doesn't sign, he could go on to USC for three years.
3. Chicago Cubs: Josh Vitters, 3B
Talks between the Cubs and the Vitters camp have been positive and there is confidence that a contract will be signed by Wednesday. One holdup could be the team and draftee right above this one. When similar players -- in this case two high school hitters -- are taken back-to-back in the first round, the second one often waits as long as possible to see what the first one gets.
5. Baltimore Orioles: Matt Wieters, C
Talks are ongoing between the Orioles and Scott Boras, Wieters' agent. Wieters was generally considered to be the top college bat in the Draft class, and as such, may be looking for an above-slot bonus to go along with a Major League contract. O's president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has stated that you have "to stay flexible and do what you think is in the best interest of the organization."
9. Arizona Diamondbacks: Jarrod Parker, RHP
Picks 9-11 are tied to each other because all three are high school pitchers. This may be an instance where one -- team and draftee -- is waiting for the others to blink, to set a certain standard. Parker is represented by Larry Reynolds and the D-Backs have dealt with him before, most notably with uber-prospect Justin Upton. Word was that GM Josh Byrnes was going to speak with Reynolds on Monday to see where things stood.
10. San Francisco Giants: Madison Bumgarner, LHP
Of all the top first-round picks, this one could be the front-runner to not work out. Rumor has it that Bumgarner is looking for Clayton Kershaw money. Kershaw, also a high school lefty, was the No. 7 overall pick in last year's draft and, by most accounts, was a much more polished pitcher than Bumgarner coming out of the prep ranks. Bumgarner is a University of North Carolina recruit, but there have been grumblings that he'll head to San Jacinto Junior College if he doesn't sign, so he can re-enter in 2008. Of course, that could be a bargaining ploy.
11. Seattle Mariners: Phillippe Aumont, RHP
This situation, in many ways, is the one that's the most surprising that it hasn't been resolved as of yet. As mentioned above, Aumont and the Mariners might be waiting to see what happens with Parker and/or Bumgarner before signing. Some think this one is all but official and it's fairly likely it will get done, but the staring contest among all three slots here may hold things up some.
12. Florida Marlins: Matt Dominguez, 3B
While the Marlins were able to recently sign second-rounder Mike Stanton, another high school bat, there's been no announcement about a Dominguez signing. Dominguez, a teammate of Moustakas' at Chatsworth High School in the Los Angeles area, does have a commitment to Cal State Fullerton, but the Marlins were still encouraged they'd be able to keep him from honoring that.
17. Texas Rangers: Blake Beavan, RHP
The Rangers remain "cautiously optimistic" about bringing Beavan into the fold and there was hope that the fact that Heyward signed -- the first first-round signee in quite some time -- would help break the ice. Beavan is a University of Texas recruit, but he was hinting at the possibility of heading to junior college if the Rangers can't convince him to sign.
27. Detroit Tigers: Rick Porcello, RHP
Porcello would have certainly been a top five pick -- perhaps even top two -- if it weren't for perceived bonus demands. The Boras-represented high school pitcher, believed to be the best prep arm in this Draft class, will definitely get an above-slot bonus if he does sign with the Tigers. Most think Detroit will step up and get it done, but while talks were on going, there was no common ground between the two sides at the end of last week.
29. San Francisco Giants: Wendell Fairley, OF
The Giants had three first-round picks. They signed pitcher Aaron Poreda a while ago and, as mentioned above, it is shaky whether they'll get Bumgarner into the fold. Fairley, a toolsy high school outfielder, seems more likely to sign by Wednesday. Perhaps the Heyward signing will help move that along.
30. New York Yankees: Andrew Brackman, RHP
There are a lot of variables with this one. Brackman was once considered to be a top-pick candidate, but what turned out to be a bad elbow really hampered him throughout his junior season at NC State. He's also a Boras client, though the agent felt confident an agreement would be reached. It's possible Brackman will need Tommy John surgery, meaning that even if he does sign, he likely won't pitch for the Yankees much until 2009.
