2013 Amateur Draft

Rays Sign Riley Unroe

By Zachary Links | June 12, 2013 at 6:29pm CDT

6:29pm: The deal will be above-slot, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes has learned.

5:53pm: The Rays have signed second-rounder Riley Unroe, tweets Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune. Terms of the deal are unknown but the suggested slot value for the No. 60 pick is just under $928K. Unroe is advised by Jason St. Clair of Lagardere.

The high school shortstop committed to USC but will instead begin his professional career with the Tampa Bay organization. Baseball America had Unroe ranked as the 53rd best prospect in the draft while Keith Law of ESPN and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com had him ranked at No. 90 and 92, respectively.

In their profile of Unroe, BA estimated that it would take a seven-figure bonus to pry him away from the Trojans and a deal that meets the suggested value of his pick will put him right on the doorstep of that.

Mariners Sign D.J. Peterson

By Zachary Links | June 12, 2013 at 5:54pm CDT

The Mariners and first round pick D.J. Peterson have reached agreement on a deal, sources tell Larry Stone of the Seattle Times (on Twitter). Peterson, who is being advised by Excel Sports Management, will get $2.759MM, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (via Twitter). That amount matches the suggested value for the No. 12 pick.

The M's previously drafted the third baseman in the 33rd round of the 2010 draft but couldn't come to terms with him on a contract. Seattle reportedly gave him a very generous offer to sign at the time, but it cost them considerably more this time around.

Peterson played a good amount of first base this season out of necessity for New Mexico but was adamant in a conference call with reporters, including Stone, that he wants to remain at third base. The youngster says that his improved range should help him stick in the hot corner.

The third baseman was ranked No. 11 in this year's class by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com and No. 12 on BA's top 500. Keith Law of ESPN.com had him ranked No. 34 on his top 100 list.

Photo courtesy of the University of New Mexico communications department.

Royals “Very Likely” To Sign Sean Manaea

By Steve Adams | June 12, 2013 at 4:06pm CDT

Yahoo's Jeff Passan reports the Royals are "very likely" to sign Indiana State left-hander Sean Manaea to a well-over-slot deal. The Royals, according to Passan, are confident that the torn labrum in Manaea's hip won't be a long-term issue. Kansas City is familiar with Manaea's maladay, as Alex Gordon suffered a similar injury in 2009 (Twitter links).

The Royals gambled on this year's draft, selecting Stephen F. Austin State University shortstop Hunter Dozier with their eighth overall pick with the hopes of signing him under slot and making a run at Manaea. Things have gone according to plan thus far, as Dozier signed for $938K under slot value.

Manaea, who is advised by the Boras Corporation, was thought to be a potential No. 1 overall pick following a dominant showing in the Cape Cod League last summer. His injury issues caused him to fall out of the first round, and the Royals promptly took him with the first pick in the Competitive Balance round (No. 34 overall). That pick carries an assigned slot value of $1.623MM, per Baseball America, but Scott Boras made it clear weeks before the draft that Manaea would not sign for a discount.

In addition to Dozier, the Royals have also signed second-round pick Cody Reed for full slot value ($1.198MM). According to Passan's sources, a deal between the two sides could be reached as soon as this week. The Royals have a draft pool of $8,290,700.

Draft Signings: Indians, Smith, Kuhl, Wade, O’Neill

By Steve Adams | June 12, 2013 at 2:45pm CDT

Here's today's rundown of notable Day 2 and Day 3 draft picks to sign (all slot info courtesy of Baseball America's list of assigned pick values)…

The Indians announced, via Twitter, that they have signed four draft picks, including right-hander Trevor Frank, who served as the closer for the UC Riverside this season.
Baseball America's Jim Callis tweets that the Padres fourth-rounder Mason Smith received a $415K bonus. Smith signed slightly under the assigned pick value of $433K. The high school outfielder from Idaho was committed to Utah and projects to have a plus bat with average power. MLB.com's Corey Brock first reported the Smith signing, as noted below.
Pirates ninth-rounder Chad Kuhl signed for the full slot value of $145K, tweets Callis, who adds that the Delaware right-hander generates a lot of ground-balls with his sinker.
The Yankees have signed fourth-rounder Tyler Wade to a deal worth $371K, according to Callis (on Twitter). The high school shortstop's bonus matches the assigned value of his pick. Callis writes that Wade boasts plus speed and a plus arm with a line-drive bat.
Callis tweets that the Mariners signed third-round pick Tyler O'Neill to an above-slot $650K bonus (assigned value was $631K). O'Neill, a prep catcher from Canada, has drawn comparisons to Brett Lawrie because of his bat and power. He's likely to end up in the outfield.
The Diamondbacks have signed third-round pick and first baseman/outfielder Daniel Palka for $550K, Callis tweets. Arizona secured the Georgia Tech product under slot, as the assigned pick value for the No. 88 slot was $603K. Palka has big power and a strong arm that could profile in right field, Callis adds.
The Reds went over slot to sign their fifth-round pick, according to Callis (Twitter link), inking prep shortstop Cory Thompson for $367K (slot was $275K). Callis adds that Thompson is a solid runner with a good glove and some pop in his bat, but he also has a fastball in the low 90s.
MLB.com's Corey Brock tweets that the Padres have signed 20 draft picks, including Hofstra right-hander Bryan Verbitsky (No. 86 overall), high school center fielder Mason Smith (No. 118) San Francisco right-hander Adam Cimber (No. 268) and UNC right-hander Justin Livengood (No. 298). The slot values for those picks are $621K, $433K, $146K and $134K, respectively.
Two of those 20 picks that Brock mentions are Memphis lefty Erik Schoenrock (11th round) and junior college lefty Payton Baskette, tweets Callis. Each pick signed for an even $100K.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Cardinals Agree To Terms With First-Rounder Rob Kaminsky

By Steve Adams | June 12, 2013 at 1:14pm CDT

Baseball America's Jim Callis tweets that the Cardinals and first-round pick Rob Kaminsky have agreed to a $1,785,300 signing bonus. The prep left-hander out of New Jersey receives a signing bonus that matches the assigned pick value for his No. 28 overall selection that was reported by Baseball America earlier this year.

Kaminsky, who is advised by Excel Sports Management, ranked 21st on Baseball America's list of Top 500 draft prospects, ranked 33rd according to ESPN's Keith Law and ranked 38th according to Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. BA called him the "most advanced prep arm" in the draft, noting that his fastball sits 88-92 mph and touches 93-94. Kaminsky is just 5'11" and weighs 190 pounds, however, leading Mayo and to raise questions about his durability.

The Cardinals selected Kaminsky with the compensation pick they received for losing Kyle Lohse to the division-rival Brewers as a free agent, so his development will likely carry extra narrative within the NL Central. Interestingly, the Cardinals hadn't selected a left-handed pitcher in the first round since drafting Bret Wagner in 1994. In 2013, however, they took two within a span of nine picks, grabbing Gonzaga lefty Marco Gonzales with the 19th pick. Both southpaws have now signed, bumping the total of first-rounders to sign up to eight.

Dodgers Sign First-Rounder Chris Anderson

By Steve Adams | June 12, 2013 at 12:54pm CDT

The Dodgers have signed first-rounder Chris Anderson for a signing bonus of $2,109,900, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The Jacksonville University right-hander is advised by ACES. Anderson's bonus matches the assigned pick value (per Baseball America) for the No. 18 selection exactly.

Anderson, who turns 21 late next month, ranked as the draft's 16th-best prospect according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, the 25th-best prospect per ESPN's Keith Law and the 45th-best in the eyes of Baseball America. Prior to the draft, Mayo wrote that Anderson, whose fastball touches 97 mph, may have boosted his stock more than any arm in this year's college class. Law notes that he faded down the stretch, perhaps due to over-usage, but has the potential for two plus pitches.

Anderson is the second college pitcher selected by the Dodgers in the past three drafts, as they also selected Stanford left-hander Chris Reed back in 2011 with the No. 16 overall pick. Both Anderson and second-round pick Tom Windle are Minnesota natives. Windle, a left-hander who attended the University of Minnesota, agreed to terms with Los Angeles last week. Anderson's deal means that there are now seven first-round picks who have signed just six days after the draft.

Photo courtesy of Jacksonville University.

White Sox Sign First-Rounder Tim Anderson

By Zachary Links | June 12, 2013 at 12:32pm CDT

The White Sox have signed first round pick Tim Anderson to a deal worth $2.164MM, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The shortstop out of East Central Community College in Dectaur, Mississippi is advised by Reynolds Sports Management.

Anderson ranked 25th among draft prospects according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. Baseball America ranked him as the draft's No. 26 prospect, while ESPN's Keith Law ranked him 37th. His $2.164MM deal matches the exact slot recommendation for the No. 17 pick.

Mayo writes that Anderson's speed is his best asset, noting that he should be a base-stealing threat with occasional power to his pull side. All three evaluations feel he has a chance to stick at short, though BA notes that average arm strength could force him to move.

Anderson is the sixth first-rounder from this year's draft to sign with his team. Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune first reported that the two sides were nearing an agreement.

Steve Adams contributed to this post.

Yankees Agree To Terms With First-Rounder Jagielo

By Steve Adams | June 12, 2013 at 10:34am CDT

Baseball America's Jim Callis reports (via Twitter) that the Yankees and first-round pick Eric Jagielo have agreed to terms on $1,839,400 signing bonus — the exact amount of the assigned pick value for the No. 26 overall selection. Jagielo is advised by Frontline.

Jagielo, a third baseman from Notre Dame, ranked 16th on Baseball America's list of Top 500 draft prospects. ESPN's Keith Law ranked the slugger 26th among potential draftees, and MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo had him at No. 37 on his Top 100 list. BA projects him to hit for both power and average, noting that he has improved his plate discipline in 2013.

Jagielo is the first college position player selected by the Yankees in the first round since they selected Florida State's John-Ford Griffin with the No. 23 pick in the 2001 draft. Jagielo was one of three first-round picks for the Yankees; New York also selected Fresno State outfielder Aaron Judge and prep lefty Ian Clarkin later in the first round. Jagielo becomes the fifth 2013 first-rounder to sign.

Photo courtesy of Notre Dame media relations department.

White Sox Nearing Deal With First-Rounder Anderson

By Steve Adams | June 12, 2013 at 9:58am CDT

The White Sox and first-round pick Tim Anderson are on the verge of finalizing a deal, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports. Anderson, a shortstop from East Central Community College in Dectaur, Miss. is flying to Chicago take a physical, according to Gonzales.

Anderson, who is advised by Reynolds Sports Management, ranked 25th among draft prospects according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. Baseball America ranked him as the draft's No. 26 prospect, while ESPN's Keith Law ranked him 37th.

The assigned pick value for the No. 17 overall selection is $2.164MM, according to Baseball America.

A’s Sign Competitive Balance Pick Pinder

By Steve Adams | June 12, 2013 at 8:50am CDT

8:50am: Pinder's bonus will be $750K, according to BA's Jim Callis (Twitter link), meaning the A's were able to ink Pinder for about $33K under slot.

8:29am: The A's have signed No. 71 overall pick Chad Pinder, according to Pinder's Twitter account. Financial details of his signing bonus have yet to be reported, but the assigned pick value of that slot is $782,900, according to Baseball America. Pinder is advised by Icon Sports Management.

Pinder, a third baseman out of Virginia Tech, was selected with the competitive balance lottery pick that the Athletics were awarded in last summer's lottery. The 21-year-old ranked as the 49th-best prospect in the draft according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. He ranked 54th on BA's Top 500 and placed 80th on the Top 100 list of ESPN's Keith Law (Insider subscription required).

Mayo praised Pinder's gap power and ability to use the whole field at the plate, also calling him a "solid and reliable defender" at third base. BA and Law agree, though BA notes that some scouts feel he could also provide average defense at second base, where his bat profiles better.

Pinder is the second of the A's top three picks to sign, as Oakland inked first-rounder Billy McKinney for a $1.8MM bonus yesterday.