Just seven first round selections remain unsigned as we close in on the July 13 deadline. If the players below don't reach agreement with their respective clubs, they will be eligible for future drafts. In the last week alone, we saw four first-round picks sign: Corey Seager (Dodgers), Mike Zunino (Mariners), Marcus Stroman (Blue Jays), and Walker Weickel (Padres). Here's the updated list of players who have yet to agree to terms:
4. Kevin Gausman, Louisiana State RHP, Orioles
6. Albert Almora, HS OF, Cubs
8. Mark Appel, Stanford RHP, Pirates
9. Andrew Heaney, Oklahoma State LHP, Marlins
16. Lucas Giolito, HS RHP, Nationals
25. Richie Shaffer, Clemson IF, Rays
30. Ty Hensley, HS RHP, Yankees
Giolito and Appel will be tough signs. I think Appel signs but Giolito won’t.
Thing is, Giolito has to consider that the next years draft is considered to be better, and the chance of injury.
He may very well develop like crazy in a year, and go as a top 10 next year, but there’s a risk attached to as well. Seems like the clubs have all the leverage here.
Appel is a much more likely signee though. He has NO leverage or realistic options at all.
That’s why Boras have been hinting about Japan and how the new draft system is unfair to small clubs. He’s got absolutely nothing he can do but to recommend his client to sign.
If Giolito goes to UCLA like he says he will he won’t have to worry about next years draft. He won’t be eligible to reenter the draft until after his junior year of college.
He’ll have to go to a indie circuit or a JuCo school. He wont re-enter next year if he goes to a 4 year school
How many of these are Scott Boras clients? I have to respect the man, he plays hardball. How could you not want the most money out of your clients?
All I know is Almora and it’ll be tough
Appel is a Boras guy.
Ty Hensley is with Boras.
Ty Hensley is NOT with Boras. Heaney and Hensley are with ICON Sports Management (same “advisor” as Cecchini, Wiles, and Barrett Barnes)
Boras turned down $6 mil for Appel and he dropped to #8 with a $2.8 mil slot price. So far, nobody has paid more than $1 mil over slot. All Boras did for Appel was lose money and a good chunk of season one in the minors.
ppjeffy: that is not accurate.
From what I have read, Boras did not turn down anything but rather refused to negotiate before the draft — a position that seems to have hurt his client in this case.
The situation they currently find themselves in is the Pirates having a slot of $2.9m and around $600k extra to spend.
Technically, the rules state that clubs are not allowed to talk to draftees about bonus money before they are actually drafted. Every team does of course, but Boras was technically following the rules there.
I certainly understand the desire to maximize the contract offers. It makes sense in the moment, but what I see is some serious potential to do your business harm in the long run. Appel as represented by Boras likely dropped from certain 1st pick money just by association with him. Players have the right to select their advisors…and baseball organizations have the right to press these representatives.
As it comes down to the deadline, it’d be interesting to see each player’s slot recommendation and their respective club’s remaining budget.
Do the Orioles have any extra slot money to spend on Gausmen?
Gausman and Appel are the 2 am looking forward to as MLB pitchers..Nice and loads of talent. Gausman the gasser.
I wouldn’t worry a lot to the O’s poster above. Slot and all, new CBA.. He was generally late signing his 1st rounders as recall when with the Sox. Gausman probably wants the bank and he *might* end up every bit as good as Appel, just less polish ATM.
johnsilver: as a Pirates fan, I’m interested in having Appel sign and perform well.
That said, the only game I had a chance to see this year was his outing vs. Florida State in the regional…an outing that Appel hopes to forget. I didn’t see him throw above 90, and Florida State was all over most every offering he had. He certainly didn’t help his cause for a big over-slot bonus with that outing, at least not in my eyes.
Late in the season, many were down in velocity. Don’t think he was used in relief any this season as some were who made it really deep into the CWS tourney however that lost even more as the tourney progressed..
That was just 1 big game however. he had a huge season full of big games. Can’t link it here, but you can just look up his “Stanford” page if you want a quick read me on the big ones he threw this season, even his “perfect game” game has good info on him.
I hope the Yanks can sign Ty Hensley. The last HS pitching first rounder they failed to sign was Garrett Cole -_-
The funny thing is RAB reported he was going to sign a month ago and still nothing.
I know man. It’s so frustrating. Yanks could really use some top of the line pitching prospects right about now too.
They would be in much better shape down on the farm if cole had signed. But honestly they didn’t try that hard to sign him.
let him go. He is another Gerritt Cole. Yanks need to stop drafting Boras clients. He is a snake. He convinced Cole , a life time Yankee fan , who always wanted to be a Yankee, turn them down. Good Luck Cole pitching in Pittsburg. You’ll never fulfill your dream of being a Yankee and it looks like Hensley is following in his footsteps. Good luck , Ty pitching for the Marniers or the Orioles . That is where you are headed. Who needs ya.
Yep.. I am convinced now that Jim Jones is alive & well in the bronx…
Again…. Hensley is NOT a Boras client.
Mark Appel could sign with an American Association team in Texas…reenter the draft next summer….become the #1 pick…and make his way to Kansas City to become an extremely middling back of the rotation starter. Luke Hochevar pioneered this trail for him.
coryjwilson: he could also go back to Stanford and reenter the draft next summer. I’m not sure why he would go the independent route when he could go and complete a degree for free…and be in the draft next year.
The other problem is that next year’s draft has the potential to be much deeper than this year’s was. Appel would have to dominate again, but even then finds himself as a college senior entering the draft…and effectively little to no leverage due to that. He would really be rolling the dice (or should I say…Boras would be rolling the dice).
The only option would be if he played in Japan and returned as a free agent. It’s doesn’t appear that he’d be allowed to do this though.
Knowing the ramifications of a hold out by Appel…I’m surprised he slipped so far in the draft..even as a Boras client. Appel must be intelligent himself as a product of Stanford.
The old trick Boras used of making his players difficult signs is catching up to him. There’s not as much value in letting your players fall to the larger money franchises toward the bottom of the round as there has been in ther past.
Heaney has filthy stuff, may be the best left hander out there. To bad he was drafted by the crummy Marlins…….
the new CBA takes most of the leverage away from the players. Appel is taking a HUGE risk if he decides not to sign. The problem is that Boras screwed up and what is in the best interest of Boras is not in the best interest of his client. The name Matt Harrington comes to mind.
Appel will sign with the hottest team in baseball!!! Zoltan Power