Braves Sign First Rounder Mike Minor

Uuuh this guy was drafted for signability over higher ceiling draft picks, but still ends up with the biggest Braves' bonus ever?

The Braves haven't had a pick close to this high since 1991. He signed for last year's slot. I wouldn't have offered him more than 2009 slot, but 2008 slot for the 7th rounder is very signable. Unlike a Matzek, Miller, or Purke.

DAMN YOU GIANTS. You can have Mike Minor, I want the Braves to have Zack Wheeler.

Does baseball's antitrust exemption prevent teams from suing MLB? Because if teams had agreements which would allow them to employ players and MLB refused to sign off on the contracts in a timely fashion, I'd imagine that MLB would be liable in civil court for the lost value of two months of playing time for Minor and others in a similar situation.

James F- I had the same thought as you. Also can the player or agent file a lawsuit for the same interference? These shenanigans are costing the player developmental time at the professional level affects when he starts getting paid real money. Selig is a weasel who needs to be fired.

@johns: Only about 6 teams would draw any crowds if they put the teams the Nats are putting on the field (Yankees, RedSox, Phillies, Cubs, Cardinals, maybe Dodgers). IF DC doesn't deserve a team because of their attendance during this putrid stretch, than you're essentially saying only those 6 teams should exist. That would be a pretty boring league.

Also, the Nats came to DC with 0 talent on the roster and 0 minor league prospects, thanks to the moronic trades and lack of development under Omar Minaya and the mis-management under MLB ownership before the current owners bought the team. Essentially, the Nats were an expansion franchise except they didn't get supplemental picks to speed up their development like a true expansion franchise would. The poor decisions their current owners have made certainly slowed the development. However, give the Nats a chance in DC. Lets see them break .500 and see how they draw. They have a promising young pitching staff (all under 25 years old), and they are making better baseball decisions since Jim Bowden left (look at the trade that brought in Nyger Morgan- it's turned out very well already). It is not as hopeless a situation as their current record indicates. Give the Nats time to develop before you want to boot them out of MLB.

bobhamelin, I heard about the shenanigans with Selig & the All-Star Game. That kinda stuff makes me angry. The draft is broken Bud! Do something about it!

I hope the Royals sign those picks & tell Bud to shove his precious AS Game you know where.

Get this man out of office.

Everyone assumed that the Braves bypassed more talented players because they were not as "signable" as Minor. Now, we know this for sure.

It is way past time for MLB to set hard slots for drafted players and to make players "declare" for the draft,much as they do in the NFL and the NBA. The worst teams would then be assured of getting the best players.

Minor signing this late takes so much away from this pick imo. I think this pick was made for a couple of reasons: signability, future trade bait (lefty starters always have some value until they pull a jojo reyes), and because he will probably be the second starter to reach the majors assuming strasburg signs. Taking away two months of learning and development means it’s going to take at least that much longer for him to get to the majors. And with our lack of SP at the upper levels, the sooner he was ready the better.

Selig is a tool of the owners and their lap dog. He is not going anywhere.

So the Yankees can spend half a billion dollars on FA's, the RedSox can spend 52.5 million for the rights to talk to a pitcher, but the Braves are in trouble for spending 242,000 on a draft pick?

Crazy world

They've also got some catcher whose pretty good. And there's this irish guy, I think he plays outfield. And they've got a SS from Cuba who I hear does good work.