The smoke has cleared and all but three of the first 50 picks signed deals. Barret Loux (Diamondbacks) and Dylan Covey (Brewers) did not sign, but both pitchers had medical issues that influenced the dialogue they had with the clubs that selected them. Here are the details on the third player who did not sign, plus Baseball America's winners and losers:
- John Manuel of BA lists the Nationals, Pirates, Anthony Ranaudo and Bud Selig as winners. The losers? The Brewers, Padres and the process itself.
- Padres GM Jed Hoyer told XX Sports Radio in San Diego that the Padres had a verbal agreement with Karsten Whitson for $1.953MM on draft day. The club boosted its offer as high as $2.1MM, but Whitson and his representatives were holding out for more, so the sides didn't reach a deal. You can listen in on Hoyer's comments here.
- ESPN.com's Keith Law finds it "hard to see [Whitson] beating the Padres' offer … in the 2013 draft."
- In the same piece, Law explains that he believes Bryce Harper and the Nationals both did well with last night's deal.
- The Indians spent $9.3MM on the draft, Indians scouting director Brad Grant told MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince (Twitter link).
- The Rockies are allowing first-rounder Kyle Parker to play college football, but their $1.4MM bonus is protected if he gets injured, according to Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
Both the Nats and Pirates took huge steps towards a brighter future last night. For the Pirates especially, I hate to see such an old franchise be such a laughingstock and I look forward to seeing them make a challenge for nl central in 2-3 years.
These kids that get the spring/summer baseball and fall/winter college deal have it made.
There was some other kid.. I think the Angels took him two drafts ago, who is doing the same thing at Stanford (no football, though). They described his daily life.. it’s like, wake up late and go work out with the baseball team, yoga, and then his classes.
Who knows if its really a good way to turn yourself into a major league player, but I’d be surprised if they have even one bad day in the next 3-5 years.