Nationals To Sign Bryce Harper
For the second consecutive summer, the Nationals signed the first-overall pick to a record-setting deal. Last August, it was Stephen Strasburg, and tonight Bryce Harper made history. The 17-year-old gets a major league deal that guarantees him $9.9MM over five years - more guaranteed money than any position player in draft history. Of the $9.9MM, $6.25MM is a bonus.
The buzz surrounding Harper started last year, when he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old. Harper, still just 17, got his GED early, enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada and won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award as the country’s top amateur player.
Mark Teixeira previously held the record for the biggest deal given to a position player ($9.5MM) and last year's top pick, Strasburg, holds the record for the biggest deal in draft history ($15.1MM). Scott Boras advises Teixeira, Strasburg and Harper.
The Nationals have confirmed the deal, after it broke on Twitter. Jim Bowden of Sirius XM Radio, Kendall Rogers of Yahoo Sports, Jon Heyman of SI.com, Yahoo's Tim Brown and Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post were among the reporters who contributed to the story.
Click here for the complete list of 2010 first rounders to sign.
Rays Sign Josh Sale, Drew Vettleson
The Rays agreed to sign first-round pick Josh Sale and supplementary first-rounder Drew Vettleson, according to Conor Glassey of Baseball America (Twitter link). Sale, a 19-year-old outfielder, had committed to playing at Gonzaga next season. Last year, MLB recommended a $1.467MM bonus for the 17th-overall selection, but the Rays signed Sale for $1.62MM. Vettleson, a two-way player who turned 19 last month, gets $845K.
The Rays already signed first-rounder Justin O'Conner for $1.025MM. Click here for the complete list of 2010 first-rounders to sign.
Cardinals Sign Zack Cox
Padres Do Not Sign Karsten Whitson
The Padres did not sign ninth-overall pick Karsten Whitson according to Baseball America (Twitter link). Whitson, 19 next week, is a right-handed pitcher out of Chipley H.S. in Florida. The Padres will get the 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft because the Diamondbacks did not sign Barret Loux.
The Padres offered Whitson $2MM-plus, only to see him reject it, according to Dan Hayes of the North County Times (on Twitter).
Click here for the complete list of 2010 first-rounders to sign.
Tigers Sign Nick Castellanos
The Tigers signed supplementary first-rounder Nick Castellanos for $3.45MM, according to ESPN.com's Keith Law (on Twitter).
Rockies Sign Kyle Parker
The Rockies signed first-rounder Kyle Parker to a $1.4MM bonus, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). Parker, who quarterbacks Clemson's football team, will be allowed to play football, according to Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports (Twitter link). However, he signed for less money than he would have obtained for agreeing to focus on baseball.
Mets To Sign Matt Harvey
The Mets agreed to sign Matt Harvey for a bit more than $2.5MM, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link). ESPN.com's Keith Law reports that Harvey gets $2.525MM (Twitter link). The 21-year-old sought a $4.5MM deal, according to Heyman (on Twitter).
Back in 2007, the Angels selected the right-hander in the third round. This year, the Mets drafted Harvey seventh overall. Last year, MLB recommended a $2.178MM bonus for the seventh-overall selection.
Click here for the complete list of 2010 first-rounders to sign.
Marlins Sign Christian Yelich
The Marlins signed first-rounder Christian Yelich for $1.7MM, according to Baseball America (on Twitter).
Red Sox To Sign Anthony Ranaudo
The Red Sox agreed to terms with supplementary first rounder Anthony Ranaudo, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com (Twitter link). Ranaudo gets a $2.55MM bonus, according to Kendall Rogers of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter), but not a major league deal, according to Speier (on Twitter).
Dodgers Sign Zach Lee
10:59pm: The Dodgers signed Lee, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). Lee will leave LSU and focus solely on baseball, according to the team. Lee will get a $5.25MM bonus to be spread over five years, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (on Twitter).
8:26pm: The Dodgers are "on the brink" of signing first-round pick Zach Lee, according to Yahoo's Steve Henson (on Twitter). The prep right-hander, who turns 19 next month, was considered a tough sign, partly because he has committed to playing quarterback for LSU's football team. The Dodgers selected Lee 28th overall, a slot for which MLB recommended a $1.134MM bonus a year ago.