11:04pm: Bauer's deal includes a $3.4MM bonus, $4.45MM in guaranteed money and the potential for $7MM in earnings, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (on Twitter).
10:47pm: Bauer obtains a bonus of around $3.5MM and the overall package is worth $7.4MM or so, according to Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA (on Twitter).
7:19pm: Jack Magruder of FoxSportsArizona.com reports (on Twitter) that Bauer's deal is worth about $7MM over four years, including bonus and salary. Depending on the exact amount, it could be one of the ten richest contracts in draft history.
5:22pm: The D'Backs announced that they have signed Bauer to a Major League contract. Arizona's 40-man roster now has 39 players.
4:56pm: Trevor Bauer, the third overall pick in this year's draft, has passed his physical with Arizona for his first big league contract, according to Peter Gammons of MLB Network (on Twitter).
Bauer, 20, had “the deepest repertoire of any pitcher in the draft,” according to Baseball America. He can reach 96 mph with his fastball and has “top-of-the-rotation upside,” according to BA. Bauer's extensive repertoire worked at the collegiate level this season, as he posted a 1.25 ERA with 203 strikeouts and 36 walks in 136 2/3 innings for UCLA.
After selecting Bauer with Arizona's top pick, D’Backs’ amateur scouting director Ray Montgomery suggested he can be a difference-making starter.
“We see him as a potential rotational guy for us and I think his talent gives him a chance to make an impact on us sooner rather than later,” Montgomery said in June.
Bauer explained last month that Arizona's philosophy about scouting and player development matches up with his own somewhat unorthodox workout regimen. Since Bauer has already worked so many innings, Arizona could choose to shut him down for 2011 if they complete a deal.
