Selig Continues To Support Slotting, Worldwide Draft
Commissioner Bud Selig still wants MLB to introduce capped bonuses for top picks and develop an international draft, according to Mike Fitzpatrick of the AP (via the Miami Herald). Selig says the draft has worked to establish competitive balance, but he insists the system would work better with some changes.
"I believe in slotting and I believe in a worldwide draft. I think it's important," he said. "I think the draft has worked, but I think there are some things that have happened in the last five or six years that are worrisome."
Selig said owners and general managers have expressed support for a slotting system. However, the players’ association will work to ensure that drafted players obtain substantial bonuses, so it won’t be as easy to convince them that slotting is a good idea (unless the cap for bonuses sits significantly higher than it does now).
A worldwide draft would pose many logistical issues (some countries might decline to participate, for example). Selig has spoken out in favor of the worldwide draft and slotting on numerous occasions before.
Bauer Expects To Fit In With Diamondbacks
Trevor Bauer isn’t this good by accident. Listen to this year’s third overall pick describe his repertoire and it’s hard not to get the distinct impression that he is intent on combining his wits with his physical skills to become as effective as possible.
“I throw a four-seam fastball, I throw two variations of the curveball, two variations of the slider, two variations of the change-up, a split fingered fastball and two variations of a reverse-slider, which is kind of a cross between a fastball and a screwball," Bauer explained on a conference call with reporters. "It’s a little bit slower than a sinking fastball and a little bit faster than a screwball and has a left-handed cut fastball action to it.”
The 20-year-old's extensive repertoire worked wonders at the collegiate level in 2011, as he posted a 1.25 ERA with 203 strikeouts and 36 walks in 136 2/3 innings for UCLA. D'Backs GM Kevin Towers sees Bauer and fellow first rounder Archie Bradley as future members of Arizona’s rotation and D’Backs’ amateur scouting director Ray Montgomery agrees.
“We see [Bauer] as a potential rotational guy for us and I think his talent gives him a chance to make an impact on us sooner rather than later,” Montgomery said in a statement.
Bauer has an unorthodox workout regimen and unusual Tim Lincecum-like mechanics (the righty models his mechanics after Lincecum and his pitching style after Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee). In conversations with D’Backs vice president of scouting and player development Jerry DiPoto, Bauer was relieved to determine that his thoughts on pitching aligned closely with those of many in the Diamondbacks’ front office.
“The organizational philosophy as far as training and pitching and sequencing pitches and player development fit with my ideas that I already had on my own,” he said.
Bauer understands that Arizona may decide to shut him down for the season as a result of his heavy workload so far. But the Golden Spikes finalist says he's looking forward to the possibility of representing the D’Backs at the Major League level and was honored to have been selected third overall.
“It’s a credit to all the hard work I’ve put in over the years, all the hours of preparation and video analysis, conditioning on days you don’t really want to be conditioning,” he said. “And it’s a credit to the Diamondbacks organization as well, since they talked to me to get an idea about why I do the things I do.”
Archie Bradley On Future With D’Backs
After out-matching the opposition all season long, it was Archie Bradley’s turn to be overwhelmed. The 18-year-old right hander could barely contain himself when the Diamondbacks selected him seventh overall in tonight’s draft.
“I almost broke down in tears,” he said on a conference call with reporters. “For me to finally hear my name called was amazing.”
The Broken Arrow high school product posted a 0.37 ERA with 137 strikeouts and 11 walks in 71 1/3 innings this year (while hitting .395 and leading the team with nine homers). He’s just a teenager, but D’Backs’ director of amateur scouting Ray Montgomery says he already compares favorably with older players.
“The tools Archie Bradley brings fits with what we were looking at with the guys on the college front, and he happens to be two years younger,” Montgomery said. “Bradley is big, physical, athletic and has the stuff to be in our starting rotation in the future.”
He also has the stuff to start at quarterback for the University of Oklahoma. The 6’4” 215 pound Bradley has signed a letter of intent to play football at Oklahoma, which gives him a negotiating tool that others don’t have.
Bradley says “the frontrunner has always been baseball,” though he loves football as well. He declined to say whether he and advisor Jay Franklin would accept ‘slot’ money to sign with Arizona.
“I have no comment on that,” he said. “I’m still just enjoying the moment. That comes later down the road.”
The D’Backs have until August 15th to sign Bradley, third overall selection Trevor Bauer and the rest of their picks.
Quick Hits: Johnson, Tigers, Kouzmanoff
With the first round of the 2011 draft in the rear view mirror, let's take a look at a few links..
- Slugger Nick Johnson was in the Indians' clubhouse before tonight's game against the Twins, but skipper Manny Acta says that it doesn't mean that we'll see the veteran promoted to the majors, writes Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Instead, the first baseman will be promoted from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus.
- Because of their signing of Victor Martinez, the Tigers were without a first round pick tonight. Six months later, Tigers VP David Chadd has no regrets, writes MLB.com's Jason Beck. The club wound up surrendering the No. 19 overall pick to the Red Sox, who used the pick to take UConn pitcher Matt Barnes.
- Athletics third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff was shocked to learn of his demotion to Triple-A tonight, writes Jane Lee of MLB.com.
Draft Notes: Bradley, Bundy, Hager, Starling, Cubs
The first and supplemental rounds are over and teams are reaching out to their top picks and setting up media conference calls with them. Here’s the latest on the draft from the players and teams themselves…
- Archie Bradley (selected seventh overall by the D’Backs) says fellow Oklahoma high schooler Dylan Bundy (selected fourth overall by the Orioles) pushes him to be a better player. “With his workout and the way he goes about the game, it puts some weight on my shoulders to try to equal that or better that” Bradley said.
- High school infielder Jake Hager (selected 32nd overall by the Rays) wants to start his pro career soon. Though he sees himself as a shortstop, he remains flexible to playing elsewhere on infield if that’s where the Rays want him to play. Hager describes himself as a hard worker who’s coachable. The Nevada native “had a feeling” the Rays would take him, since they were scouting him hard most weeks.
- High school outfielder Bubba Starling (selected fifth overall by the Royals) describes himself as an equally good football and baseball player. The Kansas native admits to being a Royals fan, though he says he didn’t have time to see tons of games, since he plays so many sports. Starling says he felt stronger later in the season, after returning from a tweaked quad muscle.
- Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken explained the selection of Javier Baez (ninth overall). “Javier has a tremendously live bat, is versatile in the field and we are happy to welcome him to the Cubs organization,” Wilken said in a team statement. “He has a great arm and is a smart baserunner in tune with the game.
Supplemental Round Results
We'll be live tracking the results of the 2011 supplemental draft right here:
34. Nationals – Brian Goodwin
35. Blue Jays – Jacob Anderson
36. Red Sox – Henry Owens
37. Rangers – Zach Cone
38. Rays – Brandon Martin
39. Phillies – Larry Greene
40. Red Sox – Jackie Bradley Jr.
41. Rays – Tyler Goeddel
42. Rays – Jeff Ames
43. Diamondbacks – Andrew Chafin
44. Mets – Michael Fulmer
45. Rockies – Trevor Story
46. Blue Jays – Joe Musgrove
47. White Sox – Keenyn Walker
48. Padres – Michael Kelly
49. Giants – Kyle Crick
50. Twins – Travis Harrison
51. Yankees – Dante Bichette Jr.
52. Rays – Blake Snell
53. Blue Jays – Dwight Smith Jr.
54. Padres – Brett Austin
55. Twins – Hudson Boyd
56. Rays – Kes Carter
57. Blue Jays – Kevin Comer
58. Padres – Jace Peterson
59. Rays – Grayson Garvin
60. Rays – James Harris Jr.
2011 MLB Draft Results
After months of anticipation, it's finally time for MLB's amateur draft. This year's draft may not have anyone who comes with the same hype as Bryce Harper of last year's class, but it's still flush with tons of intriguing prospects.
Here's this year's draft order, from River Ave. Blues, to be updated after each selection:
- Pirates – Gerrit Cole
- Mariners – Danny Hultzen
- Diamonbacks – Trevor Bauer
- Orioles – Dylan Bundy
- Royals – Bubba Starling
- Nationals – Anthony Rendon
- Diamondbacks – Archie Bradley
- Indians – Francisco Lindor
- Cubs – Javier Baez
- Padres – Cory Spangenberg
- Astros – George Springer
- Brewers – Taylor Jungmann
- Mets – Brandon Nimmo
- Marlins – Jose Fernandez
- Brewers – Jed Bradley
- Dodgers – Chris Reed
- Angels – C.J. Cron
- Athletics – Sonny Gray
- Red Sox – Matt Barnes
- Rockies – Tyler Anderson
- Blue Jays – Tyler Beede
- Cardinals – Kolten Wong
- Nationals – Alex Meyer
- Rays – Taylor Guerrieri
- Padres – Joe Ross
- Red Sox – Blake Swihart
- Reds – Robert Stephenson
- Braves – Sean Gilmartin
- Giants – Joe Panik
- Twins – Levi Michael
- Rays – Mikie Mahtook
- Rays – Jake Hager
- Rangers – Kevin Matthews
Pirates Select Gerrit Cole
The Pirates may be headed for a 19th consecutive losing season in 2011, but if their assessment of Gerrit Cole is accurate, they're a little closer to becoming a winner again. They have officially selected the UCLA right-hander with the first pick of the amateur draft.
Cole stands 6'4" and doesn't turn 21 until the fall. He throws a slider and change-up, plus a fastball that regularly reaches the mid 90s. His stuff didn’t translate into the statistical success you’d expect for a first overall pick (teammate Trevor Bauer posted more impressive numbers). Cole finished the season with a 3.31 ERA, 119 strikeouts and 24 walks in 114 1/3 innings – impressive numbers, but certainly not Strasburg-esque.
Cole has experience as a first rounder. The Yankees selected him out of high school in 2008. He declined to sign, even though he’s a Yankees fan who counts Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera among his role models.
The Pirates have had the first overall pick three other times in their history. They selected Jeff King in 1986, Kris Benson in 1996 and Bryan Bullington in 2002. Scouting director Greg Smith and GM Neal Huntington also considered Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon, Virginia left-hander Danny Hultzen and others with the top pick.
I talked to Cole about his season and the draft in March and MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes introduced us to Cole and a number of other college right-handers last week.
The Pirates have until August 15th of this year to sign Cole, who is represented by Scott Boras. The commissioner’s office recommended a $4MM signing bonus for last year’s top pick, which turned out to be Bryce Harper.
Photo courtesy UCLA athletics.
Athletics Notes: Sizemore, Bergmann
Here are some notes on the A's as they get set to take on the Orioles in Baltimore..
- The A's recalled Scott Sizemore from Triple-A Sacramento, and demoted third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, according to the team's official Twitter page. Oakland acquired Sizemore from the Tigers in exchange for David Purcey in late May.
- The Athletics have confirmed that Jason Bergmann signed a minor league deal with the club on June 1st. The right-hander has been placed on the Double-A Midland roster. The 29-year-old signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox in December but was cut loose in March due to a shoulder injury.
Rays Sign Lance Cormier
The Rays signed Lance Cormier to a minor league deal, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times (on Twitter). The Rays also released Triple-A right-hander Edgar Gonzalez, according to the Tampa Tribune (on Twitter). Back in May, the Dodgers designated Cormier for assignment and they appear to have released him since.
The 30-year-old right-hander pitched 13 2/3 innings for the Dodgers this year and posted a 9.88 ERA with 4.6 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9. Cormier, an eight-year veteran, has a 5.07 ERA with 5.3 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 over the course of 290 big league appearances, mostly in relief. His 63.8% ground ball rate places him 12th among relievers with at least ten innings pitched (Cormier's career mark is 51.6%).
Gonzalez has Major League experience in parts of seven seasons, but hasn't appeared with an MLB team since he suited up for the '09 Athletics. The 28-year-old had a 3.72 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 48 1/3 innings as a starter for the Durham Bulls.