Draft Roundup: Matusz, Alonso, Hosmer

How much of this is posturing? All of it. From everything written in the Baltimore papers, its a matter of time, not money with Matusz. His advisors are waiting on Crow to set the bar, but it's a veritable love fest between Matusz (and his family) and the team.

As for Alonso and Hosmer... They'll both sign at the 11th hour. The only guys I could see NOT signing are Crow and Alvarez and even Alvarez seems likely to take the money in my eyes. Crow...not so sure. He and the Nats sound waaaay off and Kasten doesn't strike me as likely to fold.

Juiced,

Actually, it wouldn't be terrible for the Nats to do that. They'd have two top 10 picks in a much stronger class next year. As it stands right now, they could easily finish with the worst record, draft Strasburg number 1 and get a bat, Jackson or Green could be on the board. I would take either of them over Crow any day of the week.

I do not know the rule. What is it exactly regarding unable to sign your first round pick?

@ Juiced - I'm pretty sure that if your pick doesn't sign you get the same pick in the next years draft + your standard pick based off how you ended 08.

If you don't get your pick signed, say he was the 7th pick. Than that team will get a pick that follows the 7th pick from the regular order of the 09 draft. The biggest danger is that the compensation pick is not protected, and therefore if the pick in the 09 draft does not sign the team is just screwed...