MONDAY: The Cardinals officially announced today that Mercado has signed.
WEDNESDAY: The Cardinals have come to an agreement with each of their top three picks, as Baseball America's Jim Callis reports (on Twitter) that the team has agreed to terms with second-rounder Oscar Mercado on a $1.5MM signing bonus. Mercado, selected with the 57th overall pick, signed well above slot value. Baseball America reported earlier this year that the assigned pick value for the No. 57 slot was just $971K.
Callis adds, in a second tweet, that the $528,600 difference between Mercado's bonus and the assigned pick value is the most significant gap in any over-slot deal so far this year.
Mercado, a high school shortstop from Florida, is advised by Excel Sports Management — the same agency that advises high school lefty Rob Kaminsky, whom the Cardinals selected 28th overall. Callis notes in the above tweet that Mercado is a potential Gold Glover at short, but scouts aren't as high on his bat. He ranked as the draft's No. 36 prospect according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo and the No. 38 prospect according to BA.
Mercado has a strong commitment to Florida State University, making the over-slot deal a necessity for the Cardinals to sign him.
