List Of 2010 First Rounders To Sign
Between now and August 16th, most of the players below will reach agreements with their teams. Some, like Drew Storen in 2009, will sign almost immediately and begin their pro careers. Others, like Stephen Strasburg in 2009, will sign seconds before the deadline. Here's where we'll keep track of the bonuses that first rounders, supplemental rounders and other noteworthy picks obtain. From now on, you'll be able to find this post on the right side of the site, under MLBTR Features.
Updated 8-16-10
- Nationals – Bryce Harper – Signed for $9.9MM
- Pirates – Jameson Taillon - Signed for $6.5MM
- Orioles – Manny Machado - Signed for $5.25MM
- Royals – Christian Colon - Agreed to sign for $2.75MM
- Indians – Drew Pomeranz - Agreed to sign for $2.65MM
- Diamondbacks – Barret Loux - Did not sign
- Mets – Matt Harvey - Signed for $2.525MM
- Astros – Delino DeShields Jr. - Agreed to sign for $2.15MM
- Padres – Karsten Whitson - Did not sign
- Athletics – Michael Choice - Agreed to sign for $2MM
- Blue Jays – Deck McGuire - Signed for $2MM
- Reds – Yasmani Grandal - Will sign for about $3MM
- White Sox – Chris Sale – Agreed to sign for $1.656MM
- Brewers – Dylan Covey – Did not sign
- Rangers – Jake Skole - Agreed to sign for $1.557MM
- Cubs – Hayden Simpson - Signed $1.06MM
- Rays – Josh Sale - Signed for $1.62MM
- Angels – Kaleb Cowart - Signed for $2.3MM
- Astros – Michael Foltynewicz - Signed for $1.305MM
- Red Sox – Kolbrin Vitek - Agreed to sign for $1.359MM
- Twins – Alex Wimmers - Signed for $1.332MM
- Rangers – Kellin Deglan - Agreed to sign for $1MM
- Marlins – Christian Yelich - Signed for $1.7MM
- Giants – Gary Brown - Agreed to sign for about $1.3MM
- Cardinals – Zack Cox - Signed for $3.2MM
- Rockies – Kyle Parker - Signed for $1.4MM
- Phillies – Jesse Biddle - Agreed to sign for $1.16MM
- Dodgers – Zach Lee - Signed for $5.25MM
- Angels – Cam Bedrosian - Signed for $1.116MM
- Angels – Chevez Clarke - Signed for $1.089MM
- Rays – Justin O'Conner - Signed for $1.025MM
- Yankees – Cito Culver - Signed for $954K
Supplemental Round Selections:
- Astros – Michael Kvasnicka - Signed for $936K
- Blue Jays – Aaron Sanchez – Signed for $775K
- Braves – Matthew Lipka - Signed for $800K
- Red Sox – Bryce Brentz - Signed for $889K
- Angels – Taylor Lindsey - Agreed to sign for $873K
- Blue Jays – Noah Syndergaard - Signed for $600K
- Red Sox – Anthony Ranaudo - Signed for $2.55MM
- Angels – Ryan Bolden - Signed for $830K
- Blue Jays – Asher Wojciechowski – Signed for $815K
- Rays – Drew Vettleson - Signed for $845K
- Mariners – Taijuan Walker - Agreed to sign for $800K
- Tigers – Nick Castellanos - Signed for $3.45MM
- Rangers – Luke Jackson - Agreed to sign for $1.545MM
- Cardinals – Seth Blair - Signed for $751,500
- Rockies – Peter Tago - Signed for $983K
- Tigers – Chance Ruffin - Signed for $1.15MM
- Rangers – Mike Olt - Signed for $717K
- Cardinals – Tyrell Jenkins - Agreed to sign for $1.3MM
Odds & Ends: Brewers, Orioles, Werth, Weathers
Some links after an astounding debut from Stephen Strasburg…
- Brewers owner Mark Attanasio tells MLB.com's Adam McCalvy that the Brewers could hypothetically add payroll if the team starts contending soon.
- Jayson Werth had a team spokesman tell Todd Zolecki and Zach Schonbrun of MLB.com that his impending free agency isn't distracting him at the plate.
- Phillies manager Charlie Manuel thinks Werth is putting extra pressure on himself to play well in his contract year, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter).
- The Orioles will interview Bobby Valentine for their managerial opening, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Andy MacPhail called former Indians manager Eric Wedge to gauge his interest in the position.
- David Weathers told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer that he would be willing to come back and pitch for the Reds. The 40-year-old righty pitched 62.0 innings of 3.92 ERA ball for the Reds and Brewers last year.
- MLB has accepted the Mets' decision to place Oliver Perez on the DL, reports Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
Pirates Designate Jack Taschner For Assignment
The Pirates designated Jack Taschner for assignment, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The 32-year-old left-hander posted a 6.05 ERA in 17 appearances in the majors this year. The Pirates, who struck out 14 times against Stephen Strasburg tonight, also optioned Jeff Clement to the minors.
Taschner's strikeout (7.9 K/9) and walk (3.7 BB/9) numbers are better than they have been in recent years, but he is allowing lots of hits, as usual. Though he has struggled mightily against right-handed batters in his career, Taschner's rate stats have historically been better against lefties (8.3 K/9, 4.0 BB/9).
Draft Notes: Phillies, Brentz, Rays, Harper, Whitson
The reactions and updates keep trickling in, as last year's first overall pick prepares to make his much-anticipated major league debut…
- The Cubs selected Bryan Harper, Bryce's older brother, in the 26th round, writes MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.
- Phillies scouting director Marti Wolever tells Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer that the team is "very close" to signing first rounder Jesse Biddle (Twitter link).
- Red Sox supplementary rounder Byrce Brentz will sign for slot money, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. That should be an $891K bonus for Brentz, who was close to a deal just hours after the draft.
- Rays second round pick Jacob Thompson tells Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times that he's ready to sign. The right-hander says he doesn't want to play "hardball" with the Rays (figuratively speaking, that is).
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that he hopes to sign Bryce Harper and get his pro career started before the mid-August deadline for signing picks (Twitter link).
- The Nationals plan to have Harper play outfield, not catcher, according to Ben Goessling of MASN.com.
- Harper told the media that he intends on working out, having fun and fishing this summer, according to Goessling. In other words, don't expect the phenom to sign right away.
- The Giants took Brett Bochy (manager Bruce's son) with their 20th round pick, according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News (via Twitter).
- Not to be outdone, the Rockies drafted manager Jim Tracy's son, Mark, in the 22nd round, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link).
- The White Sox selected Ozney Guillen in the 22nd round, but Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times says Guillen won't likely sign (Twitter link).
- And before those three teams made their selections, the Tigers picked Patrick Leyland in the eighth round, according to Steve Kornacki of MLive.com.
- Houston's top three picks all told Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle that they expect to sign. Delino DeShields Jr., Mike Foltynewicz and Michael Kvasnicka could all be in the Astros' system before long.
- Padres executive Paul DePodesta explains that the club selected high school righty Karsten Whitson with its first round pick because of his upside, even though the pitcher's development could take years.
- Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer explained to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News that the Yankees trust their scouts, even if it means surprising people with picks like Cito Culver.
- The Tigers announced that director of player development Glenn Ezell stepped down. The timing is odd, to say the least.
D’Backs Designate Saul Rivera For Assignment
The D'Backs have designated Saul Rivera for assignment to make room for Blaine Boyer, according to the team. The D'Backs acquired Rivera from the Nationals for cash last month, but the right-hander wasn't the solution to Arizona's bullpen woes. Rivera, 32, appeared in four games for the D'Backs and allowed 11 hits and three walks in 3.2 innings, with one strikeout.
As a group, D'Backs relievers have a 7.19 ERA, so the team continues looking for bullpen arms. Boyer, 29 next month, was part of the problem for manager A.J. Hinch early in the season, when he posted a 7.82 ERA in 14 appearances. But the right-hander returned to the minors and pitched well. Boyer walked one and allowed five hits in six innings, striking out nine.
Christian Colon “Ready To Go” At Short Or Second
Fourth overall pick Christian Colon says his game is polished enough to take him to the majors before long and he's not the only one who thinks so. Rival executives told ESPN.com's Buster Olney that the Cal State Fullerton shortstop could reach the majors by next year. The Royals have to sign Colon for that to happen, and the 21-year-old says he hasn't thought about the terms of or timeline for a deal.
"I haven't talked to anybody about it," he said. "[The Royals] know that I'm ready to go. They know that I want to play."
ESPN.com's Keith Law suspects that the Royals have the framework of a deal in place with Colon and his agent, Scott Boras. Colon isn't concerning himself with the negotiations, but the Royals have already earned points for style.
"I think the Kansas City hat looks really good on me," Colon said.
The shortstop likes watching Elvis Andrus and Derek Jeter, but some project him as a second baseman. Colon grew up watching Roberto Alomar and now likes watching Martin Prado, so he says he's open to a positional change.
"I see myself as a shortstop," he said. "But if the Kansas City Royals see me as a second baseman, then I'm all for it."
Colon, who says he has become stronger since the Padres drafted him in 2007, repeatedly referred to himself as a "born leader" during this afternoon's media conference call. He could soon join recent first rounders Billy Butler (2004), Alex Gordon (2005), Luke Hochevar (2006), Mike Moustakas (2007), Eric Hosmer (2008) and Aaron Crow (2009) in the Kansas City organization.
No Deal Yet For Indians, LeVon Washington
4:30pm: Indians assistant GM John Mirabelli told MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo that there is no deal.
"We absolutely do not have any agreements across the board," he said.
3:44pm: Heyman says the deal isn't quite complete (Twitter link) and notes that over-slot deals like Washington's don't often become official until closer to the August deadline for signing picks.
3:00pm: The Indians reached an agreement with second-round pick LeVon Washington for $1.55MM, tweets SI's Jon Heyman. The Indians drafted the outfielder 55th overall; he'd gone to the Rays at #30 out of high school in 2009 but turned down their offer of $1.1MM and attended Chipola Junior College. Washington is represented by Scott Boras.
MLB.com outlined the knocks on Washington – he might not have the arm to stick in center field, and he comes with a "perceived lack of energy." On the plus side, he brings offense and above average speed. Baseball America ranked Washington 66th overall, considering him an enigma who earned Johnny Damon comparisons before the '09 draft but had a disappointing year at junior college.
Brad Thompson Elects Free Agency
Brad Thompson has chosen to become a free agent after clearing waivers, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). The Royals designated Thompson for assignment when they claimed Kanekoa Texeira off of waivers last week.
Thompson, 28, has a 6.41 ERA in 19.2 innings this year with 4.6 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9. Before this season, the right-hander had spent his entire career with the Cardinals, the team that drafted him in 2002. In five seasons with the Cards, Thompson posted a 4.36 ERA in nearly 400 innings as a swingman. The Royals signed Thompson this winter after the Cardinals released him.
Taijuan Walker Hopes To Get Started
Ask Taijuan Walker to describe himself and he'll tell you that the Mariners selected a “considerate” young man with their supplementary round selection this year. Ask scouts to describe the 17-year-old they saw throwing mid-90s fastballs and “considerate” will probably not be the first word they use. They’ll tell you about a pitcher with a lively fastball and a promising, but inconsistent curve.
Walker may soon be able to show those pitches off in the Mariners’ system, since he has tentative plans to sit down and discuss a deal with the M’s once he graduates from high school this week.
“I want to get signed,” Walker said on a conference call today.
Walker was a promising hitter in high school and admires Mariners bats like Ichiro and Chone Figgins, but doesn’t mind giving up on hitting to focus on pitching.
Nationals Designate Jamie Burke For Assignment
The Nationals designated Jamie Burke for assignment to make room for Ivan Rodriguez, according to Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington (via Twitter). Burke appeared in just one inning as a defensive replacement for the Nationals this year, but he did not bat.