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2013 Amateur Draft

Draft Signings: Evans, Armstrong, Horstman

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Here are today's most notable signings from Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft (slot information courtesy of Baseball America)…

  • The Royals signed fourth round draft pick Zane Evans, Baseball America's Jim Callis tweets.  Evans signed for $400K, below the $450.4K assigned slot value for the 114th overall pick.  Evans was both a catcher and a right-handed relief pitcher at Georgia Tech and Callis believes Kansas City will use him as a catcher.
  • The Reds have signed third-rounder Mark Armstrong, Callis reports (via Twitter).  Armstrong, a high school right-hander who had committed to Pitt, signed for exactly his assigned slot value of $496K.
  • The Mariners have signed St. John's left-hander Ryan Horstman, Callis reports (via Twitter).  Horstman, one of the few college freshmen eligible for the draft, was taken in the fourth round by the M's and signed for $550K, a significant bump up from his slotted price of $437.6K.
  • Junior college right-hander Kenyan Middleton tweeted that he has officially signed with the Angels earlier today. Middleton, the No. 95 overall pick, is advised by Tripper Johnson of Sosnick & Cobbe. His slot carries an assigned pick value of $541K.
  • The Cardinals signed third-rounder Mike Mayers for a little more than a $500K bonus — about $58K below his assigned pick value — according to Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Mayers is a right-hander out of Ole Miss.
  • Baseball America's Jim Callis tweets that the Phillies signed fourth-rounder Jake Sweaney for $400K. Sweaney's deal is $21K below slot. The high school catcher was committed to Oregon and has a plus arm with power potential in his bat.
  • The Twins signed third-rounder Stuart Turner for a $550K bonus that is well below the No. 78 pick's assigned value of $703K, Callis tweets. The Mississipi backstop was regarded as the best catch-and-throw college catcher in this year's draft, and Callis notes that he had a strong year at the plate too.
  • Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports that the Cardinals have agreed to an over-slot deal with 10th-rounder Malik Collymore. The Canadian high school second baseman will receive a $275K signing bonus, which is significantly larger than the recommended $135K.
  • Eleventh-round selection Spencer Navin also received a significantly over-slot deal, tweets Callis. The Dodgers gave the Vanderbilt backstop $300K — three times the $100K maximum for draft picks after the 10th round. Players drafted after the 10th round don't count toward a team's bonus pool as long as they sign for $100K or less. In other words, the $200K excess to sign Navin will count against the Dodgers' draft pool.
  • The Astros have signed fourth-round pick Conrad Gregor for a bonus of $482K, tweets Callis. The Vanderbilt first baseman has good patience and athleticism but has yet to tap into his power, Callis adds. Gregor signed for full slot value.

Orioles To Sign Second-Rounder Chance Sisco

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The Orioles have agreed to terms with second-round draft pick Chance Sisco, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports (via Twitter).  The deal will become official if Sisco passes a physical on Monday.  Terms of the contract weren't released, though the draft slot value (as listed by Baseball America) for the 61st overall pick is $913.3K.

Cisco is a left-handed hitting high school catcher who just began playing behind the plate last season, according to Connolly.  Cisco's scouting report on MLB.com describes the 6'2", 193-pounder as having "an average arm and…good hands," and as a former shortstop switching to catcher, Cisco "should develop into a solid all-around defender" as he learns his new position.

White Sox Sign Second-Rounder Tyler Danish

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The Whit Sox have signed second-round pick Tyler Danish for the full slot value of $1,001,800, according to Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com. Baseball America's Jim Callis confirms the signing (on Twitter), adding that Danish is an "ultrapolished" high school righty from Florida whose fastball sits 90-93 mph and shows a feel for a slurve and a changeup. He is advised by Tom O'Connell of O'Connell Sports Management.

Danish ranked 96th on Baseball America's list of Top 500 draft prospects, though the White Sox thought considerably higher of him, drafting him 55th overall. BA noted that he has "filthy stuff" but lacks the size that scouts are typically looking for eary in the draft. He's listed at 6'1" and 185 pounds. MLB.com didn't rank him in their Top 100, but noted that his delivery draws comparisons to Pat Neshek, leading to injury concerns. Danish had been committed to Florida.

Tigers Sign First-Rounder Jonathon Crawford

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The Tigers have signed first-round pick Jonathon Crawford, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports (on Twitter). Crawford-JonathonThe Florida right-hander will receive a full slot value — a signing bonus of $2,001,700. The No. 20 overall pick is advised by B.B. Abbott of Jet Sports Management.

Crawford, 21, ranked as the draft's No. 17 prospect according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. Baseball America ranked him 24th on their list of Top 500 draft prospects, and ESPN's Keith Law pegged the former Gator at No. 47 on his own Top 100. Mayo writes that Crawford's fastball touches 96 mph, and he features a power breaking ball as well. However, inconsistencies and an inability to change speeds prevented him from being one of the top few college arms selected in the draft.

The Tigers haven't had a true first-round pick since the 2009 season thanks to their free agent signings of Jose Valverde, Victor Martinez and Prince Fielder. They've shown a tendency to draft pitching early on in the draft, however, selecting names such as Ryan Perry, Jacob Turner, Rick Porcello, Andrew Miller and of course, Justin Verlander with their top picks in recent years. Crawford becomes the 13th first-round selection from this year's draft to sign with his new team.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Astros Nearing Deal With Mark Appel

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The Astros are nearing a deal with No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel, reports Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. Appel is advised by the Boras Corporation.

Passan reports that the deal could be signed as soon as next week, and Appel's bonus is expected to be about twice as much as the offer he turned down when the Pirates drafted him eighth overall in 2012. That would suggest that Appel will be signing for close to the full slot value of $7,790,400 reported by Baseball America in April; Appel's reported offer from the Pirates was $3.8MM.

Braves Sign Second-Rounder Victor Caratini

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Baseball America's Jim Callis reports that the Braves have signed secound-round pick Victor Caratini for an under-slot bonus of $800K (Twitter link). Caratini, the No. 65 overall selection in the draft, signed for $59K below the assigned pick value reported by BA earlier this year. He is advised by Melvin Roman of MDR Sports Management.

Caratini is a catcher/third baseman out of Miami Dade Junior College, though in their Top 500 scouting report (subscription required) Baseball America wrote that if he went in the first five rounds it would be as a catcher. Callis notes in his tweet that Caratini boasts gap power and a plus arm strength.

Caratini ranked No. 124 on BA's Top 500 and ranked as the draft's No. 92 prospect according to Keith Law of ESPN (Insider required). Law's report on Caratini only discusses him at third base, noting that he has a good feel for hitting and a chance to stay at the hot corner.

Draft Signings: Tarpley, Dixon, Bellinger, Smith

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Here are Thursday's notable signings from Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft (all slot info courtesy of Baseball America) …

  • The Orioles have agreed to terms with Scottsdale Community College lefty Stephen Tarpley, the team's third-round choice, according to Baseball America's Jim Callis (via Twitter). Tarpley, who reportedly touches 95 with his fastball, was signed for just $500 under the recommended $525,500 bonus for the 98th overall choice.
  • Third-round draft choice Brandon Dixon has signed with the Dodgers for the slot recommendation of $566,500, tweets Callis. The University of Arizona third baseman could become a corner outfielder, according to Callis, and is noted for his power potential.
  • The Dodgers have signed fourth-round choice Cody Bellinger, a high-school first baseman, for $700k, tweets Callis. Los Angeles pried Bellinger away from the University of Oregon with the largest over-slot signing to date (by percentage), nearly doubling the recommended $409k bonus. Bellinger is being advised by the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
  • The Blue Jays have agreed to terms with their fourth round pick, left-handed high-schooler Evan Smith, according to Callis (on Twitter). Smith, who stands at 6'5", has reportedly touched 93 with his fastball. $96.1k 
  • Cody Dickson, a "projectable" left-hander out of Sam Houston State, will sign with the Pirates for $375k, Callis says on Twitter. The fourth-round pick's bonus falls $54,200 under the slot recommendation.
  • The Reds have signed fourth-rounder Ben Lively for $350k, Callis tweets. The righty mixes four pitches, including a 90-93 MPH heater. His signing bonus comes in at a modest $17.9k under slot. 
  • The Rockies inked fifth-rounder Blake Shouse for $353,900, his exact slot allocation, according to a Callis tweet. Per Callis, the two-way player sits in the low-to-mid 90's with his fastball and also features a hard curve.
  • Third round pick Patrick Murphy signed with the Blue Jays for $500K, Callis tweets.  The Arizona high school right-hander missed the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.  In the past, he has displayed a 93 mph fastball and solid curveball.  Murphy is advised by Jonathan Pridie of Sosnick Cobbe.
  • The Yankees signed third-rounder Michael O'Neill for $501K, according to Callis (via Twitter). The Michigan outfielder is quick and could wind up in center field.
  • Rangers fourth-round pick Isaiah Kiner-Falefa signed for $202K, per Callis (on Twitter). The Hawaiian high school shortstop is a solid defender with a contact-oriented approach. He signed for nearly $184K under slot.
  • Catcher/right-hander Tanner Murphy, a fourth-round pick of the Braves, agreed to a $250K bonus to forego his commitment to Southern Illinois, Callis tweets. Murphy has power in his bat and a strong throwing arm behind the dish, and he's also been clocked at 92 mph on the mound. He signed for a healthy $125K below slot.
  • The Angels have signed third-round pick Kenyan Middleton for a bonus of $450K, tweets Callis. Middleton is a two-sport athlete out of junior college in Oregon who touches 95 mph with his fastball and features a tight slider as well. He signed $91K under slot.
  • The Rays have signed fifth-round selection Johnny Field for a bonus of $250K, Callis reports (on Twitter). Field, an outfielder out of the University of Arizona, will convert to second base and provides most of his value with his bat. He signed for nearly $45K under slot.

Draft Signings: Ledbetter, Rhame, Westbrook

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Here's a look at the latest notable draft signings from Day 2 and Day 3..

  • The Mariners inked sixth-rounder Corey Simpson to an above-slot $400K deal (suggested value: $245K), Callis tweets.  The Texas high school catcher/first baseman possesses massive power and a strong arm.
  • The Rangers signed third-round right hander David Ledbetter, tweets Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.   Ledbetter's deal comes with a $350K bonus, less than the slot amount of about $521K, tweets Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest.com.
  • Dodgers sixth-round pick Jacob Rhame agreed to a deal worth $300K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter).  The right-hander, who boasts a solid sinker, got about $70K more than the suggested value for his slot, per BA's rundown.
  • The Diamondbacks went well above slot to sign shortstop Jamie Westbrook, according to Callis (on Twitter).  The fifth-rounder got $450K, more than the suggested $318K for his draft position.
  • One of the fastest players in the draft didn't waste much time in putting his name on the dotted line.  The White Sox inked third-round pick Jacob May to a $525K deal, tweets Callis.
  • Orioles 16th round pick Randolph Gassaway agreed to sign, Callis tweets.  The high school first baseman will get a bonus of $100K.
  • Outfielder Charcer Burks signed for $170K with the Cubs, tweets Callis.  That's slightly more than the suggested ~$149K for where he was taken in the ninth round.

Rockies Sign Jonathan Gray

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The Rockies signed first-round pick Jonathan Gray to a $4.8MM deal, tweets Jim Callis of Baseball America.  The right-hander's deal is about $826K less than the suggested slot value for the No. 3 overall pick, according to BA's list of the assigned pick values for the first ten rounds.   GrayHe is advised by BBI Sports Group.

Gray, who comes out of Oklahoma University's program was the top-ranked talent in the draft according to Baseball America, second according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo and third according to ESPN's Keith Law.  Gray was widely projected as either the No. 1 or No. 2 pick in the draft but fell to third when the Cubs threw everyone a minor curveball and drafted Kris Bryant. 

The 6'4", 245-pounder spent the season as the Sooners' Friday starter, flashing a fastball that hit triple digits and showing the ability to maintain that velocity deep into his outings.  His slider is considered by BA, Mayo and Law to be a plus pitch as well.

Gray was the source of some minor controversy just days before the draft when it was reported that he tested positive for Adderall.  There was some speculation at the time that the failed test could cause his bonus demands to drop, though it's not clear if that test is the reason he signed an under-slot deal. Cubs scouting director Jason McLeod said after the draft that the test didn't play a role in their decision to select Bryant over Gray.  With this agreement, Gray becomes the 10th first-round selection from this year's draft class to sign.

Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter links) reported earlier today that Gray was nearing agreement on a deal with Colorado.

Steve Adams contributed to this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Mets Nearing Deal With First-Rounder Dominic Smith

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9:14pm: Brown's deal could be done by this weekend, a source tells Marc Carig of Newsday (on Twitter).

3:45pm: The Mets are nearing completion of a deal with first-round selection Dominic Smith, tweets Matt Ehalt of ESPNNewYork.com (hat tip: Ehalt's colleague, Adam Rubin on Twitter). Back in April, Baseball America provided a list of the assigned pick values for the first 10 rounds of the draft, which has Smith's No. 11 slot listed at $2,840,300.

Smith, a high school first baseman out of California, is being advised by the MVP Sports Group. Prior to the draft, ESPN's Keith Law ranked Smith as the No. 11 talent available, while Baseball America ranked him 14th and MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo ranked him 15th. All three noted the tremendous upside of Smith's bat and his plus defense at first, with Law in particular noting how rare it is for high school first basemen to be this highly regarded because they're already at the bottom of the defensive spectrum.

Eight of this year's 33 first-rounders have already signed or agreed to terms.

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