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Nationals Spending Big On Draft Picks
9:07pm: The Nationals officially announced their deal with Cole (on Twitter).
MONDAY, 7:20pm: The Nationals officially announced their agreement with Solis via press release. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post notes that the left-hander gets $1MM, confirming Baseball America's report (Twitter link).
SUNDAY, 1:19pm: Callis tweets that there's no snag between the Nationals and Cole -- they've agreed to terms and the deal should get done as long as Cole passes his physical.
1:17pm: Callis also reports that the Nats have also signed 12th-rounder Robbie Ray for $799K. The high school southpaw's bonus is the second largest for any player drafted later than the fourth round this year.
Callis says Ray impressed scouts last fall with a mid-90s fastball, but worked around 89-91mph for most of his senior season, which contributed toward him slipping to the later rounds.
1:00pm: A "last-minute problem" has gotten in the way of the Nats finalizing their deal with Cole, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson (via Twitter). The two sides still have until tomorrow night to work out any issues and get a deal done.
7:59am: The Nationals committed big money to a pair of draft picks by reaching agreements with pitchers A.J. Cole and Sammy Solis, reports Jim Callis of Baseball America. According to Callis, both players received deals well over MLB's slot recommendations, though GM Mike Rizzo denies that any agreements are in place. Callis reports that Cole, a fourth-round pick, received a $2MM deal, while Solis, a second-round pick, got $1MM. Cole's bonus is a record for the fourth round.
Cole, a righty drafted out of high school, has first-round talent comparable to that of the Padres' #9 overall choice, Karsten Whitson. Solis, a southpaw out of the University of San Diego, dealt with a back injury in '09 but bounced back this year.
The Nationals are once again spending big on the draft, with a potential deal for Bryce Harper expected Monday night.
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