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2011 Amateur Draft

White Sox Notes: McMillen, Guillen, Marlins

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The White Sox are hosting their crosstown rivals this evening and both teams are looking to move past disappointing starts. The Cubs have a 29-42 record, while the White Sox have improved to 35-38 after a dismal April. Here's the latest on the South Siders:

  • The White Sox announced that they have agreed to terms with 23 of their 50 draft picks, including fourth rounder Kyle McMillen, a 21-year-old right-hander from Kent State University.  McMillen is represented by Jonathan Maurer.
  • Manager Ozzie Guillen told Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune that he wants to remain in Chicago after this year (Twitter links). Guillen, who is under contract for 2012, acknowledged that chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and GM Kenny Williams have the final say on his future. 
  • The Marlins, who named 80-year-old Jack McKeon their new manager today, don’t have a long-term skipper in place and have had interest in Guillen for years. Guillen acknowledged the rumors of Florida’s interest in him by pointing out that powerful right fielder Mike Stanton would help the Marlins more than he could.

Central Notes: Zambrano, Francoeur, Astros, Pirates

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A few items of note coming out of the Central divisions as Carlos Carrasco loses his no-hit bid in the sixth in Cleveland:

  • Cubs righty Carlos Zambrano is trending in trade rumors recently, as he has already said that he would waive his no-trade clause. We've also learned that the Yankees have no interest in acquiring the hurler. However, Buster Olney of ESPN.com reminds us that no team has actually checked in with the North Siders on the hurler's availability (via Twitter).
  • Royals outfielder Jeff Francoeur could draw interest at the trade deadline as a fourth outfielder for a contending team, writes Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star. However, Francoeur has a strong relationship with GM Dayton Moore and isn't blocking the imminent arrival of any corner-outfield prospects, so the Royals probably aren't feeling any urgency to deal him, according to Dodd.
  • The Astros have signed Arizona State lefty Mitchell Lambson, their 19th-round pick, according to Stephen Goff of the Houston Examiner (via Twitter). Houston has now signed 28 of its 50 selections, per Goff.
  • The Pirates have signed Louisiana Tech lefty Mike Jefferson, their 22nd-round pick, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter).

West Notes: Giants, Teagarden, Harden, Angels

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Jhoulys Chacin lowered his ERA to 2.81 today after allowing just one run on three hits in six innings today against the Padres.  Chacin picked up his eighth win of the season and improved his case for inclusion on the NL All-Star Team.

Some notes from both divisions out west….

  • The Giants are looking to the Rangers as a potential source of catching help, reports CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler.  Taylor Teagarden is cited as a possible candidate once Mike Napoli returns from injury and resumes backing up Yorvit Torrealba.  Knobler says the Giants' catching search has extended to the minor leagues as the club has sent scouts to look at various Triple-A backstops.
  • Rich Harden looked good in his most recent simulated game and the Athletics are looking to send Harden on a rehab assignment in Triple-A next week, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
  • The Angels have signed 30 of their 49 draft picks, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.  The highest pick to sign thus far is fifth-round outfielder Andrew Ray.
  • The Angels and Rockies were the only MLB teams in the top 10 of ESPN The Magazine's annual list of the best franchises in sports, reports Chuck Schilken of the Los Angeles Times.  The Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers topped the list, while the Angels were fourth and the Rockies eighth.  The lowest-ranked baseball team?  The Mets, who ranked 117th out of 122 teams in MLB, the NFL, NHL and NBA.

Central Notes: Ricketts, McClellan, Draft Signings

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Here are some links from the Central divisions….

  • Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts gave votes of confidence to GM Jim Hendry and manager Mike Quade during a state-of-the-franchise address on Wednesday, reports Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.   "I have 100 percent confidence in Jim," Ricketts said. "He's working very hard to do everything he can to get this season back to where we want it to be. And I think Mike's done a great job. You know Mike has got those guys playing hard. You know they're not giving up. You know there's good spirit in the clubhouse. Yeah, those guys are fine."  Hendry's future in Chicago has been a hot topic given the Cubs' struggles, with ESPNChicago.com's Jon Greenberg just one of several pundits who think Hendry will be fired.
  • Ricketts also said the Cubs' debt problems wouldn't factor into any baseball-related spending.  "The fact is this year we've spent more on Baseball Operations than any year in the past, and we continue to invest in the team," Ricketts said.  "[The debt is] no way a limitation on our ability to sign free agents or our flexibility to build a better organization. It's just irrelevant for that."
  • Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks back at the Cardinals' decision to pass on Joba Chamberlain in the 2006 draft and wonders if the Cards have "developed their own" version of Chamberlain in Kyle McClellan.
  • Jim Leyland feels the Tigers have "too many" left-handers in their bullpen, writes MLB.com's Jason Beck.  With a number of teams short on southpaw relievers, the Tigers could look to a fellow contender in a trade for a right-hander.
  • The Twins have signed 15 picks from the 2011 amateur draft, according to La Velle Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.  Fifth-round shortstop Tyler Grimes is the highest-drafted player to sign.
  • The Pirates announced the signings of six draft picks.  Auburn third baseman Daniel Gamache, a sixth-rounder, is the highest-selected of the signed players.
  • The Astros' pending sale, Hunter Pence's big season and strong play from younger players has the club's future looking bright, writes MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.

Mets Notes: Gee, Mazzoni, Einhorn, Collins

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Dillon Gee's xFIP (3.90, well above his 3.05 ERA) and low BABIP (.244) indicate that the right-hander is probably due for a regression, writes Mark Simon of ESPN New York.  Mets fans are hoping the magic can last for at least one more start as Gee puts his 7-0 record on the line tonight against the Braves.  A Mets win tonight would get them back to the .500 mark (34-34) for the season.

Some more items from the Amazin's….

  • The Mets announced the signings of 12 draft picks, including second-rounder Cory Mazzoni.  Mazzoni, a right-handed pitcher from NC State, was taken 71st overall.
  • If Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz don't pay $200MM back to pending minority owner David Einhorn within three years, Einhorn will receive a 60% controlling interest in the franchise for just one dollar, writes Mike Ozanian of Forbes.  Somewhere, at least one Yankee fan is claiming the price is too high…
  • Given all of the off-the-field drama, trade rumors and injuries that the Mets have suffered this season, Terry Collins should be a Manager Of The Year contender for keeping the team competitive, argues Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. 

Draft Notes: Lamb, Bichette, Josh Bell, Beede

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Two months away from the signing deadline, we won't be seeing over-slot signings anytime soon.  Still, here's the latest.

  • Clemson lefty Will Lamb, chosen 83rd overall in the second round by the Rangers, signed at slot for $430,200, tweets Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  • Dante Bichette Jr., drafted 51st overall by the Yankees in the supplemental round, tweeted that he'll "officially a Yankee very very soon."  The Yanks received that pick as compensation for the loss of Javier Vazquez.  Slot for that pick is around $695K.  You can learn more about Bichette over at River Ave. Blues, where Mike Axisa profiled the slugger.
  • ESPN's Keith Law tweets that he's told there is no dollar figure that would change Josh Bell's mind about going to college.  Bell, drafted 61st overall by the Pirates, was one of the top draft talents but has made it clear he will honor his commitment to the University of Texas.  Of course, he also hired Scott Boras as his advisor, so clearly the Pirates think there's a chance he can be signed.
  • The Blue Jays' first pick (21st overall) was high school righty Tyler Beede; Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein tweets of rumors that the Jays had a pre-draft deal done with him.  Law tweeted a few days ago that Beede is going to sign for about $3MM, which would be about $1.7MM over slot.
  • The Rays exceeded slot on second round pick Granden Goetzman, signing the prep outfielder for $490K according to Baseball America's Jim Callis.  The Rays went over slot by less than five grand, though, and Callis says teams can exceed slot by up to five percent without going through the commissioner's office.  Goetzman went 75th overall but was actually the Rays' 11th pick.
  • If you have ESPN Insider, Law has a post up with names to watch for the 2012 draft.

Quick Hits: Magglio, Betemit, Manny, Indians

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Wandy Rodriguez looked sharp in his return from the disabled list tonight.  The Astros left-hander allowed four walks and two hits over six shutout innings as Houston notched a 8-3 win over Atlanta.  You'll be reading a lot about Rodriguez at MLBTR this summer since, with so few difference-making pitchers on the market, Rodriguez could arguably be the top arm available at the trade deadline.

Some links….

  • Magglio Ordonez could be on the market very soon, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Ordonez is a defensive liability in the outfield the Tigers can't put him at DH since that could cost Victor Martinez or Alex Avila at-bats.  Ordonez is still owed $5.8MM this season and he has a no-trade clause, so Morosi figures Detroit "would probably need to swap one burdensome contract for another" to move the veteran slugger.  The Yankees, Mariners and Angels are listed as contenders who could use DH help.
  • Wilson Betemit is drawing attention from several scouts, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.  Betemit is hitting .289/.348/.411 for the Royals this season but lost his starting third base job to Mike Moustakas.  MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith profiled Betemit's trade candidacy last month and noted that at a 2011 salary of just $1MM, Betemit is bargain for any club needing third base help.   
  • The Royals have signed five more of their draft picks, with seventh-rounder Kellen Moen the highest pick yet to sign with the club this year.
  • As if the Dodgers didn't have enough financial problems, the club owes Manny Ramirez a deferred payment of $8.33MM by June 30, reports Molly Knight of ESPN The Magazine.  Ramirez is owed a total of $25MM in deferred money from the Dodgers, which will be split up into three equal payments this year, next year and in 2013.
  • The Indians announced the signings of three picks from the 2011 draft.  Outfielder Bryson Myles (sixth round) was the highest-picked of these signings.

East Notes: Jays, Reyes, Goetzman, Phillies

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It was on this day in 1948 that Babe Ruth made his last public appearance at Yankee Stadium during a celebration of the Stadium's 25th anniversary.  With several of his teammates from the 1923 World Series champion Yankees looking on, Ruth's #3 uniform number was retired, marking the second retired number in Yankees history after Lou Gehrig's #4 was immortalized in 1939.  Ruth passed away soon after this ceremony, on August 16, 1948.

Since the Babe grew up in Baltimore and spent his whole career in New York and Boston, let's stick to some items from the east coast….

  • The Blue Jays have focused on drafting high schoolers under GM Alex Anthopoulos, a strategy that Fangraphs' Reed MacPhail says is a sign that Toronto is ready to spend what it takes to get their picks signed.
  • A Jose Reyes extension could look like the disastrous contracts given to Luis Castillo and Chone Figgins if Reyes' speed lessens as it did with those players, points out Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  That said, Sherman asks "If Reyes played for another team wouldn’t the Mets be going crazy trying to sign him in the offseason? Especially if they were pretending to be the big-market team that ownership wants to claim this franchise still is?"
  • Reyes' "value is greater to the Mets than to other clubs." writes MLB.com's Marty Noble, who thinks the Mets should try to keep such a valuable asset.
  • Granden Goetzman, a second-round pick of the Rays (75th overall) tells The Bradenton Herald's Prep Rally blog that he will sign with the club tomorrow provided he passes a physical.
  • The Phillies have had interest in Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs in the past, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post.  Renck isn't sure if Spilborghs is still on the Phils' radar as they search for right-handed hitting outfielders.
  • The Phillies released catcher Joel Naughton to create Triple-A roster space for Jason Grilli's activation from the DL, tweets MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.  Naughton (a native of Melbourne, Australia) has a career minor league line of .261/.318/.356 in seven seasons, though he only has 13 plate appearances above the high Class-A level.
  • The Red Sox have reached agreements with seven of their 2011 draft picks, reports WEEI.com's Alex Speier.  Sixth-rounder Miguel Pena is the highest-drafted of the signed players.

NL Central Notes: Pirates, Astros, Draft Signings

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Of the top eight vote-getters in National League All-Star voting, six are Brewers, Cardinals and Reds.  Ryan Braun leads the way with over 2.23MM votes thus far.  Here are a few items from this star-studded division….

  • The Pirates just acquired Mike McKenry yesterday but they still want to add more catching depth, manager Clint Hurdle tells MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch.
  • Astros owner Drayton McLane wants his team to remain in the National League, reports Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle.  The 'Stros were rumored to be candidates to move to the AL under a realignment proposal that would even out the AL and NL with 15 teams each.  Of course, McLane is in the process of selling the team to Jim Crane, so McLane's preference wouldn't necessarily be an issue if these realignment plans ever came to fruition.
  • Speaking of Crane, Justice reports (via Twitter) that the new owner will likely officially take over the Astros on July 7 or 8.
  • The Reds announced the signings of 14 draft picks, plus undrafted free agent Phil Bauer from Xavier University.  The highest-selected of these picks is left-hander Tony Cingrani, taken in the third round.
  • The Brewers announced the signings of 14 draft picks and three undrafted free agents (via MLB.com's Adam McCalvy).  Ninth-round outfielder Malcom Dowell is the highest selection to sign.

List Of First Round, Supplemental Draft Picks To Sign

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Below is our list of first round and supplemental draft picks who have signed. The deadline is tonight at 11pm central time.

Last updated 8-16-11 at 1:06am CDT

First round

  1. Pirates – Gerrit Cole – signed for $8MM
  2. Mariners – Danny Hultzen – signed five-year, $8.5MM Major League deal
  3. Diamondbacks – Trevor Bauer – signed four-year, $7MM Major League deal
  4. Orioles – Dylan Bundy – signed five-year, $6.225MM Major League deal
  5. Royals – Bubba Starling – signed for $7.5MM
  6. Nationals – Anthony Rendon – signed four-year, $7.2MM Major League deal
  7. Diamondbacks – Archie Bradley – signed for $5MM
  8. Indians – Francisco Lindor – signed for $2.9MM
  9. Cubs – Javier Baez – signed for $2.625MM
  10. Padres – Cory Spangenberg – signed for $1.86MM
  11. Astros – George Springer – signed for $2.525MM
  12. Brewers – Taylor Jungmann – signed for $2.525MM
  13. Mets – Brandon Nimmo – signed for $2.1MM
  14. Marlins – Jose Fernandez – signed for $2MM
  15. Brewers – Jed Bradley – signed for $2MM
  16. Dodgers – Chris Reed – signed for $1.589MM
  17. Angels – C.J. Cron – agreed to sign for $1.467MM
  18. Athletics – Sonny Gray – signed for $1.54MM
  19. Red Sox – Matt Barnes – signed for $1.5MM
  20. Rockies – Tyler Anderson – signed for $1.4MM
  21. Blue Jays – Tyler Beede – did not sign
  22. Cardinals – Kolten Wong – signed for for $1.3MM
  23. Nationals – Alex Meyer – signed for $2MM
  24. Rays – Taylor Guerrieri – signed for $1.6MM
  25. Padres – Joe Ross – signed for $2.75MM
  26. Red Sox – Blake Swihart – signed for $2.5MM
  27. Reds – Robert Stephenson – signed for $2MM
  28. Braves – Sean Gilmartin – signed for $1.13MM
  29. Giants – Joe Panik – signed for $1.116MM
  30. Twins – Levi Michael – signed for $1.175MM
  31. Rays – Mikie Mahtook – signed for $1.15MM
  32. Rays – Jake Hager – signed for $963K
  33. Rangers – Kevin Matthews – signed for $936K

Supplemental round

34. Nationals – Brian Goodwin – signed for about $3MM
35. Blue Jays – Jacob Anderson – signed for $990K
36. Red Sox – Henry Owens – signed for $1.55MM
37. Rangers – Zach Cone – signed for $873K
 38. Rays – Brandon Martin – signed for $860K
 39. Phillies – Larry Greene – signed for $1MM
40. Red Sox – Jackie Bradley Jr. – signed for $1.1MM
41. Rays – Tyler Goeddel – signed for $1.5MM
42. Rays – Jeff Ames – signed for $650K
43. Diamondbacks – Andrew Chafin – agreed to sign for $875K
44. Mets – Michael Fulmer – agreed to terms for $937.5K
45. Rockies – Trevor Story – signed for $915K
46. Blue Jays – Joe Musgrove – signed for $500K
 47. White Sox – Keenyn Walker – agreed to terms for $795K
48. Padres – Michael Kelly – signed for $718K
49. Giants – Kyle Crick – signed for $900K
50. Twins – Travis Harrison – signed for $1.05MM
51. Yankees – Dante Bichette Jr. – signed for $750K
52. Rays – Blake Snell – signed for $684K
 53. Blue Jays – Dwight Smith Jr. – signed for $800K
54. Padres – Brett Austin – did not sign
55. Twins – Hudson Boyd – signed for $1MM
56. Rays – Kes Carter – signed for $625K
 57. Blue Jays – Kevin Comer – signed for $1.65MM
58. Padres – Jace Peterson – signed for $624,600
 59. Rays – Grayson Garvin – signed for $370K
60. Rays – James Harris Jr. – signed for $490K

Other notable signings

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