Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports notes (via Twitter) that with 27 of this year's 39 first-rounders signed (a figure that includes Competitive Balance Round A), teams have collectively saved $4,428,400. First round picks, on average, have received 6.3 percent less than slot. That number, of coruse, could change when Kris Bryant and Sean Manaea sign. Here are more draft-related links, including today's significant non-first-round signings (slot info courtesy of Baseball America)…
- The Rays have signed fourth-rounder Kean Wong for $393K, Jim Callis of Baseball America tweets. Wong's bonus is exactly the slot value for the No. 128 pick. Wong, a high school second baseman, is the brother of Cardinals prospect Kolten.
- The Athletics will sign fifth-round pick Bobby Wahl for $500K, Callis tweeted Thursday afternoon, although he followed that up hours later by saying the deal was not yet complete. The draft pool value of the pick is $286K, so Wahl's bonus would be significantly over slot. That's no surprise, since Wahl was regarded more highly than the typical fifth-round pick. MLB.com ranked Wahl the No. 30 prospect in the draft, while Baseball America had him at No. 36 prospect. ESPN's Keith Law ranked Wahl No. 63, noting the Mississippi righty's success in the SEC but writing that most around the game view Wahl as a reliever in the long term. Wahl is advised by Excel Sports Management.
- Orioles second-rounder Chance Sisco, who signed last week, received a $785K bonus, tweets Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. That would mean the Orioles saved about $128K.
- The Astros signed 10th-round pick Austin Nicely for a healthy $610K, tweets Callis. Nicely, a high school lefty from Virginia, has a projectable frame and promising fastball/curveball combo, Callis adds. The Astros went about $470K over slot to convince Nicely to break his commitment to the University of Virgina.
- Third-round pick Jan Hernandez has signed with the Phillies for $550K, tweets Callis. The Phils saved $43K in signing the Puerto Rican high school shortstop. Callis notes that Hernandez is probably a future third baseman or catcher who has some pop and a chance to hit for average.
Charlie Wilmoth contributed to this post.
