Draft Reactions: Pirates Sign Pedro Alvarez

Friday night was a major victory for the Pirates’ new regime, as they signed #2 overall pick Pedro Alvarez to a reasonable $6MM minor league deal.  The Pirates spent almost $9.8MM on their 32 draft picks, easily a franchise record.

• Dejan Kovacevic has the negotiation details.  Scott Boras called GM Neal Huntington five minutes before the deadline, and Huntington stood firm at $6MM.  Alvarez verbally accepted and the Pirates quickly fired off an email to MLB headquarters. 
• Huntington and Boras had spoken regularly, and the calls were cordial.  Kovacevic says Boras was just posturing with the $9.5MM Major League deal talk, as the Pirates ultimately got their man at their price.  Boras complained about the midnight deadline creating administrative problems and eliminating negotiation.
• Nationals GM Jim Bowden wouldn’t go past $3.5MM for top pick Aaron Crow, but called Alvarez a "really good signing."
• Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson wasn’t impressed with the signing, as many members of the current team will be gone when Alvarez arrives.
• Interesting media subplot: the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Bob Smizik took umbrage to the suggestion that local radio host Rocco DeMaro got the scoop on the Alvarez signing.