Twins Sign Levi Michael
The Twins have signed first round pick Levi Michael for $1.175MM, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). Selected 30th overall in June, Michael played shortstop and third base at North Carolina. He put up impressive offensive numbers in college and mostly did so as a teenager, since he didn't turn 20 until this February. The switch hitting North Carolina native grew up rooting for the Tar Heels.
You can keep track of which top picks have signed with MLBTR's list.
Royals Sign Bubba Starling
The Royals have signed fourth overall pick Bubba Starling, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). ESPN.com's Keith Law hears Starling is getting a $7.5MM bonus (Twitter link). The Boras Corporation represents the high schooler, who had to be lured away from a football commitment to Nebraska. The Royals add some local talent to their deep farm system today, as Starling is a Royals fan from Gardner, Kansas.
Tim Dierkes explained Major League deals for draft picks earlier today. You can keep track of which top picks have signed with MLBTR's list.
Indians Sign Francisco Lindor
The Indians have signed first overall pick Francisco Lindor, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (on Twitter). Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the sides agreed to a $2.9MM deal (Twitter link). Sportsmeter, LLC represents the 17-year-old. The Indians believe Lindor has the potential to develop into an impact shortstop, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
You can keep track of which top picks have signed with MLBTR's list.
Cubs Sign Javier Baez
The Cubs have signed ninth overall pick Javier Baez, according to the Chicago Sun-Times (on Twitter). He gets a $2.625MM bonus, according to Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com (on Twitter). Jet Sports Management represents the Florida high school shortstop.
You can keep track of which top picks have signed with MLBTR's list.
Pirates Sign Gerrit Cole
The Pirates have signed first overall pick Gerrit Cole, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). Cole obtains an $8MM deal, according to John Manuel of Baseball America (on Twitter). The Boras corporation represents the hard throwing UCLA product.
Cole stands 6'4" and doesn't turn 21 until the fall. He throws a slider and change-up, plus a fastball that regularly reaches the mid 90s. However, his stuff didn’t translate into the statistical success you’d expect for a first overall pick (teammate Trevor Bauer posted more impressive numbers). Cole finished the season with a 3.31 ERA, 119 strikeouts and 24 walks in 114 1/3 innings – impressive numbers, but certainly not Strasburg-esque.
Cole has experience as a first rounder. The Yankees selected him out of high school in 2008. He declined to sign, even though he’s a Yankees fan who counts Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera among his role models.
I spoke to Cole earlier this year; here's my interview transcript.
You can keep track of which top picks have signed with MLBTR's list.
Orioles Sign Dylan Bundy
The Orioles have signed third overall pick Dylan Bundy, according to MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli (on Twitter). BBI Sports Group represents the right-hander. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun hears (on Twitter) that Bundy got a big league deal and Jim Callis of Baseball America hears that it's worth $6.225MM (Twitter link). Ghiroli adds on Twitter that Bundy gets a $4MM bonus. Tim Dierkes explained Major League deals for draft picks earlier today.
In his senior season at Owasso High School, Bundy had an 11-0 record with a 0.20 ERA and 158 strikeouts and five walks in 71 innings. The 18-year-old also hit 11 homers en route to being named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The Orioles signed his older brother, Bobby Bundy, after selecting him in the eighth round of the 2008 draft.
You can keep track of which top picks have signed with MLBTR's list.
Rays Sign Taylor Guerrieri
The Rays signed Taylor Guerrieri, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times (on Twitter). The sides agreed to a $1.6MM deal, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). The Rays selected the right-hander 24th overall in June. Guerrieri had a scholarship offer at South Carolina, but decided instead to sign with the Rays, who had ten of the top 60 picks in the draft.
You can keep track of which top picks have signed with MLBTR's list.
Diamondbacks Sign Archie Bradley
The Diamondbacks have signed seventh overall pick Archie Bradley for $5MM, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). BBI Sports Group represents the high schooler. The sides may have agreed to a two-sport deal.
Though he's a football standout, Bradley prefers the baseball diamond to the football field and said after being selected that "the frontrunner has always been baseball." Bradley is friends and workout partners with Dylan Bundy, the Orioles' top pick in the 2011 draft.
With today's deal, the Diamondbacks have officially signed both of their top picks, Bradley and Trevor Bauer, who has a 1.93 ERA with 16.1 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in his first 14 innings as a pro.
You can keep track of which top picks have signed with MLBTR's list.
Rays Sign Mikie Mahtook
The Rays have signed first round pick Mikie Mahtook, according to the St. Petersburg Times (on Twitter). It's a $1.15MM deal, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). Mahtook, 21, is a right-handed hitting outfielder who played his college ball at LSU. The Rays, who had ten of the top 60 picks in the draft, used their second selection (31st overall) on Mahtook.
You can keep track of which top picks have signed with MLBTR's list.
Supplemental Draft Pick Signings
When teams lose ranked free agents after offering arbitration, they obtain supplemental first round picks in the following year's amateur draft. The teams then have until August 15th to sign the picks. Today is the last day for teams to sign this year's draft picks and we'll keep track of the latest deals for supplemental first rounders right here:
- The Rays signed Tyler Goedell, according to the team. The third baseman obtains $1.5MM, according to Callis. The Rays also signed Grayson Garvin, according to Conor Glassey of Baseball America (on Twitter). It's a $370K deal, according to Callis (on Twitter). Tampa Bay obtained the 59th overall pick for the loss of Brad Hawpe.
- The Padres signed Michael Kelly, according to Callis (Twitter links). It's a $718K deal.
- The Red Sox signed 36th overall pick Henry Owens for $1.55MM, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com (on Twitter). They also signed Jackie Bradley Jr. for $1.1MM, according to John Manuel of Baseball America (on Twitter).
- The Nationals agreed to terms with Brian Goodwin, the 34th overall pick, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). The outfielder's bonus is believed to be $3MM.
- The Twins will sign supplemental first rounder Travis Harrison to a deal worth $1.05MM, according Zoodig, an athlete digital media platform, on Twitter. The Twins also signed supplemental first rounder Hudson Boyd for $1MM, according to Callis (onTwitter). The Twins obtained the 55th overall pick for losing Orlando Hudson.
- The Diamondbacks agreed to sign Andrew Chafin for $875K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. The D'Backs obtained the 43rd overall pick as compensation for Adam LaRoche.