With the final countdown on, here are a few last-minute draft rumors making the rounds. There remains little clarity — except, perhaps, at the very top.
- Late updates to mock drafts show a clear consensus that the Diamondbacks will take Vandy shortstop Dansby Swanson first overall. Check them out if you’re interested in final prognostications: MLB.com, Baseball America, Fangraphs. It is still possible that Arizona is holding negotiations with a few other players of interest, as multiple reports suggest, to keep open the possibility of freeing additional cash for later selections.
- Last year’s first overall choice, Brady Aiken, has obviously seen a major value drop but still has ample talent. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweets that Aiken has interest from the Cubs, who are unlikely to reach for him with their first pick, as well as the Rays (who choose 13th overall) and Dodgers (picking 24th).
- Astros GM Jeff Luhnow says that his team intends to spend all of its $17MM+ draft pool money, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports on Twitter. Houston has the most cash to spend in large part due to its failure to sign Aiken, of course, which left the club with both the second and fifth overall selections.
- The time for speculation is over now anyway, of course … the draft is about to start!
First 2 picks were gimme’s. Rodgers will most likely be 3rd and then the fun begins
What did Aiken accomplish by turning down last years offer? His bonus this year won’t come close to what the Astros offered.
At that point it was a disagreement over his medicals. Of course he went out and needed a TJ now anyway. Good deal for Cleveland.
Passed up $5M offer though he had a small UCL, which he ended up tearing anyway. Not a genius move.
Beyond my realm of comprehension for sure. What was the Astros initial offer, around 8?
No, it was 6.5
So he lost 5m over a disagreement on 1.5m. That’s a swing and miss
No, it was 6.5 like the others have said (and he had agreed to that)….you can’t blame the Astros for lowering their offer to 5 when their team doctor says the guy has a smaller than usual UCL which is subject to more chance of tear. And the press makes it out to be “evil Astros”. If I were the Astros, I would not have offered a dime….which may make me more “evil” but so be it.
It was an unfortunate scenario…its been talked to death… No I don’t blame the Astros… but maybe the medicals need to be back before offers are made and agreed on and players are brought to a city for signings…etc. MLB is at fault for not allowing Houston and Aiken to negotiate out a deal, and for not allowing Nix to proceed. The MLB hamstrung everyone