8:17pm: Ramsey's deal is for a below-slot $1.6MM, according to Baseball America's Jim Callis (on Twitter). The $1.6MM bonus represents the fifth-largest bonus ever for a college senior, says Callis (clarifying an earlier mistake). Only Matt LaPorta ($2.07MM), Kenny Baugh ($1.8MM), Casey Weathers ($1.8MM), and Josh Fields ($1.75MM) have signed for more after spending four years in college.
7:20pm: The Cardinals have a deal in place to sign first round selection James Ramsey, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Ramsey, an outfielder from Florida State University, was eligible to sign once the Seminoles were eliminated from the College World Series. He'll need to pass a physical before signing, but could finalize the deal as soon as Friday. The Cards selected Ramsey with the 23rd overall pick in the draft, which carries a slot recommendation of $1.775MM.
Following the draft, Baseball America wrote that Ramsey has average to above-average tools across the board but lacks a standout tool. Scouts are split on whether or not he can stick in center field; some feel he's better suited for right field or second base. The Twins selected Ramsey in the 22nd round of the 2011 draft, but he elected to return to FSU for his senior year.
Nice….now just sign Trey Williams and the Cards draft will be well done. Some top prospects to deepen the pool.
Williams! after this MASSIVE overpay the Cards wasted the picks of Williams at 11 and Foody at 12 since they are still over budget with still 2 picks to sign in the top ten from Arizona. Horrible signing at this overpay of at least 3/4 million dollars . Paid top 25 money to a guy NO one had in the top 50, plus as a senior he had NO leverage. My guess is that he reneged on a pre draft deal knowing the Cards would possibly lose draft picks if the whole slot money was counted against them. Otherwise the deal would have been announced last week after his team was eliminated.
This kid is a gamer.
Is Ramsey a top 10 prospect in our system?
When the money is factored into it, I really have a hard time understanding this pick by St Louis. Plus, it makes the Williams & Foody picks harder to understand.