Luke Jackson Rumors
Rangers To Sign Sandwich Pick Jackson
MONDAY, 9:09pm: The Rangers agreed to sign Jackson for $1.545MM, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (on Twitter).
SUNDAY, 9:34pm: The Rangers have signed Jackson and are set to announce the deal tomorrow, according to ESPN's Keith Law (via Twitter).
THURSDAY, 4:27pm: Rangers GM Jon Daniels told Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the sides have not reached an agreement (Twitter links).
1:27pm: The Rangers agreed to sign supplemental first-rounder Luke Jackson for $1.557MM, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. The high school right-hander has a low-90s fastball that can reach 96 mph. Jackson, who had committed to playing for the University of Miami, turns 19 later this month.
MLB recommends a $764K bonus for the 45th overall selection, but Jackson doubled that. He obtains as much as Jake Skole, the player the Rangers drafted 15th overall. Here is the complete list of top 2010 draft picks to sign or agree to deals.
The Rangers, now under new ownership, missed out on first rounder Matt Purke last summer. According to Callis, Purke had a handshake agreement with the Rangers for a $6MM bonus, but MLB didn't allow the deal due to the team's then-uncertain ownership.
Draft Links: Cardinals, Royals, Jackson, Rays
If this morning's round of draft-related links wasn't enough, here's some more reading material to prepare you for Monday....
- The Cardinals are targeting left-handed pitching, speed, and power in the draft, according to Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo hears that the Royals don't quite have an agreement in place with Yasmani Grandal yet, but that Grandal is still the favorite to go fourth overall to Kansas City.
- Rany Jazayerli outlines why he thinks the Royals' draft positions in recent years have been unlucky.
- Within Peter Gammons' MLB.com piece on the draft, one National League GM says that after the top three of Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and Jameson Taillon, "there's virtually no difference between the fourth and 44th picks."
- ESPN.com's Keith Law tweets that the Brewers, Astros, Marlins, and Yankees are interested in right-hander Luke Jackson, who looks increasingly like a first-round pick.
- Continuing their three-part preview of Tampa Bay's draft, DRaysBay examines some players the Rays could target with their first few picks.
- Fanhouse's Frankie Piliere runs down the latest draft buzz he's heard and updates his predictions for the first 15 picks.
- Former Athletic Scott Hatteberg is helping out with the club's draft preparation, according to Joe Stiglich of the Oakland Tribune (via Twitter).
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