MLB teams have until midnight EST tomorrow to sign draft picks

Good article here, several top picks remain unsigned.


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=581 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD>Deadline for top Draft picks nears
Club have until midnight ET on Wednesday to sign prospects
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
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• Complete First-Year Player Draft coverage


The clock is ticking.

Thanks to the new rules in the most recent collective bargaining agreement, the signing deadline for the 2007 Draft class is coming up quickly. Gone are the days of the year-long negotiations, of the draft-and-follows. Now there are just over two months from Draft day until the deadline.
Here's how the new rule works: Teams have until midnight ET on Wednesday to sign their draftees. If a drafted player does not sign by Wednesday night -- and that includes having all the I's dotted and T's crossed, including physicals by that time -- they re-enter the Draft pool. If it's a college junior or a player headed to junior college, that means they will be eligible in 2008. For high schoolers who decide to attend a four-year college, they will have to wait until 2010 to enter the Draft odyssey once again.
Nothing has changed regarding college seniors. They still have until just before next year's Draft to sign or they re-enter the Draft.
The blow of not signing an early pick is cushioned somewhat under the new rules. If a team doesn't sign its first- or second-round pick, there is compensation, moreso than in the past. If, for example, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are unable to sign No. 1 pick David Price, they would get a comparable pick -- No. 2 overall -- in 2008.
The compensation for not signing a third-round pick is a sandwich pick between the third and fourth rounds.
As of Monday morning, 18 of the 30 first-round picks had signed with their respective clubs, with No. 14 pick Jason Heyward the latest to sign with the Braves on Sunday. That leaves 12 in the opening round who have yet to sign on the dotted line. Just what kind of impact this new rule has on everyone really remains to be seen. It will undoubtedly be easier to figure out how it worked out on 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning.
"This being the first year ever, I think some people weren't sure how this thing was going to turn out," one scouting director said. "I'm sure people will have situations that they'll be able to share after.
"I was extremely leery of this deadline to begin with. I thought it was made to be too comfortable. I wanted to see it unfold the first year. I think that dictated how some people drafted and others were unaffected by it. Some people would say it was business as usual, some would say you'd better be conservative. I guess we'll find out who calculated right and who miscalculated. We won't know until it's Wednesday. Some clubs that rolled the dice may come up empty, some may have done all right. The calculations will be really interesting. It'll be interesting to talk about in years to come."
This scouting director wouldn't mind seeing things going one step further. Why bother even having the process last two months? Moving things along even faster, he thinks, will be beneficial to all sides. "I'm seriously thinking about suggesting a July 15 deadline," he said. "That way, guys are out and playing or they're going to school. This way both parties can get on with what they need to do. But I don't know if it can be changed."
Before worrying about long-term plans, it's more relevant to figure out this year. Will those still out there sign in time? Here's the latest, and be sure to check in on the Draft Blog for updates on signings ... or the lack thereof.
1. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: David Price, LHP
Negotiations with No. 1 overall picks tend to take a long time, so it's not a real surprise this one is coming down to the final days. It seems likely that something will get done, but the smaller market Devil Rays may be less reluctant to go too far over slot than some other clubs will be. The Royals gave Luke Hochevar, last year's No. 1 pick, a $3.6 million bonus and a Major League contract.
2. Kansas City Royals: Mike Moustakas, 3B
GM Dayton Moore recently stated he was optimistic they'd get this thing done, but Boras has said that Moustakas is "an exception" to the slotting guideline. Just how far above the $3.1 million estimated slot for the No. 2 pick is Kansas City willing to go? If he doesn't sign, he could go on to USC for three years.
3. Chicago Cubs: Josh Vitters, 3B
Talks between the Cubs and the Vitters camp have been positive and there is confidence that a contract will be signed by Wednesday. One holdup could be the team and draftee right above this one. When similar players -- in this case two high school hitters -- are taken back-to-back in the first round, the second one often waits as long as possible to see what the first one gets.
5. Baltimore Orioles: Matt Wieters, C
Talks are ongoing between the Orioles and Scott Boras, Wieters' agent. Wieters was generally considered to be the top college bat in the Draft class, and as such, may be looking for an above-slot bonus to go along with a Major League contract. O's president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has stated that you have "to stay flexible and do what you think is in the best interest of the organization."
9. Arizona Diamondbacks: Jarrod Parker, RHP
Picks 9-11 are tied to each other because all three are high school pitchers. This may be an instance where one -- team and draftee -- is waiting for the others to blink, to set a certain standard. Parker is represented by Larry Reynolds and the D-Backs have dealt with him before, most notably with uber-prospect Justin Upton. Word was that GM Josh Byrnes was going to speak with Reynolds on Monday to see where things stood.
10. San Francisco Giants: Madison Bumgarner, LHP
Of all the top first-round picks, this one could be the front-runner to not work out. Rumor has it that Bumgarner is looking for Clayton Kershaw money. Kershaw, also a high school lefty, was the No. 7 overall pick in last year's draft and, by most accounts, was a much more polished pitcher than Bumgarner coming out of the prep ranks. Bumgarner is a University of North Carolina recruit, but there have been grumblings that he'll head to San Jacinto Junior College if he doesn't sign, so he can re-enter in 2008. Of course, that could be a bargaining ploy.
11. Seattle Mariners: Phillippe Aumont, RHP
This situation, in many ways, is the one that's the most surprising that it hasn't been resolved as of yet. As mentioned above, Aumont and the Mariners might be waiting to see what happens with Parker and/or Bumgarner before signing. Some think this one is all but official and it's fairly likely it will get done, but the staring contest among all three slots here may hold things up some.
12. Florida Marlins: Matt Dominguez, 3B
While the Marlins were able to recently sign second-rounder Mike Stanton, another high school bat, there's been no announcement about a Dominguez signing. Dominguez, a teammate of Moustakas' at Chatsworth High School in the Los Angeles area, does have a commitment to Cal State Fullerton, but the Marlins were still encouraged they'd be able to keep him from honoring that.
17. Texas Rangers: Blake Beavan, RHP
The Rangers remain "cautiously optimistic" about bringing Beavan into the fold and there was hope that the fact that Heyward signed -- the first first-round signee in quite some time -- would help break the ice. Beavan is a University of Texas recruit, but he was hinting at the possibility of heading to junior college if the Rangers can't convince him to sign.
27. Detroit Tigers: Rick Porcello, RHP
Porcello would have certainly been a top five pick -- perhaps even top two -- if it weren't for perceived bonus demands. The Boras-represented high school pitcher, believed to be the best prep arm in this Draft class, will definitely get an above-slot bonus if he does sign with the Tigers. Most think Detroit will step up and get it done, but while talks were on going, there was no common ground between the two sides at the end of last week.
29. San Francisco Giants: Wendell Fairley, OF
The Giants had three first-round picks. They signed pitcher Tim Alderson a while ago and, as mentioned above, it is shaky whether they'll get Bumgarner into the fold. Fairley, a toolsy high school outfielder, seems more likely to sign by Wednesday. Perhaps the Heyward signing will help move that along.
30. New York Yankees: Andrew Brackman, RHP
There are a lot of variables with this one. Brackman was once considered to be a top-pick candidate, but what turned out to be a bad elbow really hampered him throughout his junior season at NC State. He's also a Boras client, though the agent felt confident an agreement would be reached. It's possible Brackman will need Tommy John surgery, meaning that even if he does sign, he likely won't pitch for the Yankees much until 2009. Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

"slotting"- yet another one of mlb's problems. The rich will continue to get richer as the small market teams are no longer drafting on pure talent, but "signablility". What a shame.

rouxdogg said:

"slotting"- yet another one of mlb's problems. The rich will continue to get richer as the small market teams are no longer drafting on pure talent, but "signablility". What a shame.

Click to expand...

Yeah and KC really looking to get ass ended this year. Going to be extremely disapointing if they cannot sign this stud.

You have to know that a Boras client is going to always be a tough sign.

Marlins have given every indication that they are going to sign his high school teammate Dominguez.

The interesting read is the blurb on Brackman. Kid may not even pitch for a few years now.

Doberman, your boy Matt Bush is looking at Tommy John surgery

Too bad, since he seemed to have found new life as a pitcher. Not my boy, just hoping to see him pull a reverse Ankiel.

GreenDoberman said:

Too bad, since he seemed to have found new life as a pitcher. Not my boy, just hoping to see him pull a reverse Ankiel.

Click to expand...

he was hitting 99 on the gun before his latest injury. Hardly a reverse Ankiel - Bush is a turd

Kid out of Chula Vista I'm watching in the Marlins system is Alejandro Sanabia. 32rd pick and getting good buzz at high rookie ball.

Like the Pads future at third with either Chase Headley or Matt Antonelli. Both may have a little pop in their bat, which the Friars could definitely use.

GreenDoberman said:

Like the Pads future at third with either Chase Headley or Matt Antonelli. Both may have a little pop in their bat, which the Friars could definitely use.

Click to expand...

Antonelli will be their starting 2B next yr and likely leadoff hitter. Logjam at 3B with Kouz, Headley, and now Ensberg

Tigers sign Porcello and give him a big bonus. Supposedly he was the best H.S. arm in the draft but was represented by Boras. That is why he slipped towards the end of the first round.

Marlins signed their 2nd round pick, Mike Stanton, who was reportedly a three-sport athlete ready to commit to USC in football.

Still waiting to hear on the others as there are just a few hours to go.

Here's a good article courtesy of MLB.com updating the 1st round picks that have signed:

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=581 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD>08/14/2007 10:00 AM ET
Checking in with first-round signees
A look at draftees who've already begun their pro careers
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
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• Crunch time for top Draft picks to sign
• Draft Tracker
• Jonathan Mayo's Draft blog
• Complete First-Year Player Draft coverage


All eyes may be on the players from the 2007 Draft class who haven't yet signed, with Wednesday's midnight ET deadline looming. But what about those who got all of that out of the way and have already started their professional careers?

Eighteen of the top 30 Draft picks have signed contracts. Most of them have at least gotten a small taste of the pro life, with varying results. However they've performed, most will agree they have a small leg up on those from their class who are still in negotiations. Nothing, as they say, trumps experience when it comes to developing future Major League talent.
Here's an update on how the 18 first-round picks have fared since signing on the dotted line following the June Draft, with some information on the sandwich-round signees for good measure.
Pick No. 4. Daniel Moskos, LHP, Pirates
Date signed: July 17
Moskos was used as a reliever and starter at Clemson, but the Pirates plan to keep him in the 'pen with the thought he could get to the big leagues in a hurry. He's currently in the short-season New York-Penn League, with a 3.60 ERA in three relief outings. Combined with a short stint in the Gulf Coast League, he's got a 2.25 ERA and seven strikeouts with no walks over eight innings, though he has given up 10 hits.
6. Ross Detwiler, LHP, Nationals
Date signed: July 5
The former Missouri State ace threw 12 innings in the Gulf Coast League before being promoted all the way to the High Class A Potomac in the Carolina League. He's made one start there and has a combined 2.70 ERA in 16 2/3 innings, having allowed 19 hits and three walks while striking out 17. Finishing the summer in the Carolina League, though, should put him on the fast track in a system that needs advanced pitchers.
7. Matt LaPorta, OF, Brewers
Date signed: June 25
The former University of Florida senior has played in a dozen games, the last five of which were in the full-season South Atlantic League. He's homered three times in 46 at-bats and his stick will carry him quickly to Milwaukee. Numbers don't tell the whole story, but he has yet to make an error in left field, a position he'd never played before signing with the Brewers.
8. Casey Weathers, RHP, Rockies
Date signed: June 18
Vanderbilt's former closer has the power stuff to finish ballgames at the next level, and he's shown it in the early stages of his pro career. Going straight to Class A Asheville in the South Atlantic League, Weathers has struck out 14 while posting an .080 batting average against and 2.25 ERA over 7 2/3 innings.
13. Beau Mills, 3B/1B, Indians
Date signed: June 15
Mills signed quickly and got a start to his pro career in the New York-Penn League. After eight games there, he moved up to Lake County in the SAL. He hasn't put up the monster numbers he did in college, but he has shown a penchant for driving in runs, with 34 in 184 at-bats. All 18 of his extra-base hits have come since he joined Lake County, over a span of 39 games. Mills has played both third and first, with most believing he'll eventually make his home at first base.
14. Jason Heyward, OF, Braves
Date signed: Aug. 12
Heyward signed just this past weekend. The local Georgia high school product, who just turned 18, will head to Orlando to finish the season with the GCL Braves. He then could get some more at-bats with Danville in the Appalachian Leauge or perhaps with Rome in the SAL before heading to Instructional League.
15. Devin Mesoraco, C, Reds
Date signed: June 22
One of the fastest risers in the class come Draft time, the Punxsutawney, Pa., native has hit .222 in 29 games with the GCL Reds. He hit his first professional home run back on Aug. 3 but has just four extra-base hits in 99 at-bats. Behind the plate, he's done fairly well, throwing out 35.7 percent of would-be basestealers.
16. Kevin Ahrens, 3B, Blue Jays
Date signed: June 15
Like Mesoraco, Ahrens is a high school draftee who's found the initial transition to pro ball a little difficult. Splitting time between shortstop and third -- the latter his likely long-term home -- he has hit .197 for the GCL Blue Jays over 127 at-bats.
18. Peter Kozma, SS, Cardinals
Date signed: July 21
Kozma was also a late riser, opening eyes close to Draft time with a hard-nosed, high-energy style and some tools to go along with it. After a brief stop in the GCL, he's kept his head above water in the Appy League, hitting .250 over his first 13 games. He is also the closest thing to a pure shortstop among the higher-ranked Draftees.
19. Joe Savery, LHP, Phillies
Date signed: July 19
The southpaw, who played both ways at Rice, is now concentrating on being a pitcher only. He's had one good outing (3 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K) and one not so good (2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K). The real test will be next year when he's had an entire offseason to focus just on his pitching craft, put more space behind him and a shoulder injury and is ready to hit the ground running at Spring Training.
20. Chris Withrow, RHP, Dodgers
Date signed: June 15
This is the way to do it with high school pitchers, if you can: sign them early and give them at least a chance to get their pro feet wet. Withrow's gotten into five games in the GCL and his 5.63 ERA is misleading. He gave up four earned runs in one outing. Take that away and he's allowed just one earned run in 6 2/3 innings, yielding three hits and striking out nine.
21. J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays
Date signed: June 15
Arencibia had some back issues that hampered him during his junior season at Tennessee, but he seems to be doing just fine in the Jays system. After a bit of a rough start, he's been red-hot of late, hitting .351 and slugging .568 in 10 August games. He's thrown out just 29.4 percent of would-be basestealers, ableit with a relatively small sample size.
22. Tim Alderson, RHP, Giants
Date signed: July 23
Those who have been looking for Alderson in the rookie-level Arizona League's stats shouldn't be alarmed they haven't found him yet. The tall right-hander from Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., has been working out with the team, throwing side sessions and batting practice. The Giants plan to activate him soon to let him get in his pro debut before the season ends.
23. Nick Schmidt, RHP, Padres
Date signed: June 28
This is not how you draw it up when you sign your first-round pick, especially an advanced college lefty who presumably could move quickly. Schmidt made three appearances in the Midwest League before getting shut down with some elbow tenderness. It's not considered serious, though, and he's rehabbing it right now and is scheduled to throw in the Instructional League.
24. Michael Main, RHP, Rangers
Date signed: June 19
While the Rangers wait on first pick Blake Beavan, they did get Main into the fold early and he's fared very well in the Arizona League. The right-hander has a 1.42 ERA, a .196 batting average against and 16 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings.
25. Aaron Poreda, LHP, White Sox
Date signed: June 16
The big lefty out of the University of San Francisco has been outstanding in his pro debut. Pitching for Great Falls in the Pioneer League, he has a 1.37 ERA and .177 batting average against to go along with 29 strikeouts and just five walks in 26 1/3 innings. How he develops his other pitches along with the outstanding fastball will help determine whether he can duplicate those efforts at higher levels.
26. James Simmons, RHP, A's
Date signed: June 19
The A's don't like to waste any time. Simmons, with perhaps the best fastball command in the Draft, was sent straight to Double-A to begin his pro career. He made his first six appearances in relief, giving up just one run on six hits and two walks while striking out 11 in 12 2/3 frames. He's had two starts since, and they haven't gone as well, with seven earned runs on 13 hits allowed over seven innings. Still, he's ahead of the curve simply by getting his feet wet in such deep waters right off the bat.
28. Ben Revere, OF, Twins
Date signed: June 12
Revere may have been the surprise of the first round in terms of very few, if any, teams having the 5-foot-9 high school speedster that high on their Draft boards. If his debut is any indication, the Twins may have gotten themselves a steal (not that it should surprise anyone, given the Twins' track record). Revere has hit .318 with a respectable .373 OBP to go along with 19 steals in 25 attempts to lead the GCL in that category.
Supplemental stars: No. 32 pick Nick Noonan (Giants) has had success in the Arizona League, hitting .318 with 13 steals in 39 games. ... The Reds' Todd Frazier (No. 34) is hitting .324 for Billings in the Pioneer League and has been red hot of late, with a .366 average and 1.114 OPS in August. ... No. 36 pick Clayton Mortensen (Cardinals) has pitched at two levels and has a combined 2.79 ERA with 48 K's in 38 2/3 IP. ... Brett Cecil, taken No. 38 overall by the Blue Jays, is a New York-Penn League All-Star with a 1.54 ERA in 35 IP. ... Nationals supplemental first-round pick Michael Burgess (No. 49 overall) has feasted on GCL pitching, hitting .300 while leading the circuit with a .977 OPS. He's second in slugging and seventh in on-base percentage. ... A's OF Corey Brown (No. 59) has hit just .253, but of his 44 hits, 10 have been homers and 12 have beend doubles for a .529 SLG in the Northwest League. ... Padres LHP Corey Luebke (63) has struggled a little since a promotion to full-season Fort Wayne, but still has a 2.93 ERA and 41 strikeouts against just five walks in 40 combined innings. ... No. 64 pick Danny Payne (Padres), the final selection of the sandwich round, has been using his leadoff-type skills to the fullest. He's got a .440 OBP and has gone 16-for-17 in stolen-base attempts in the Northwest League. Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Madison Bumgarner was saying a month ago he was going to college in the fall.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Playing the slots
</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><STYLE type=text/css> td.yspwidearticlebody { font-size: 13.5px; }</STYLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspwidearticlebody>By Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports
August 13, 2007 <TABLE id=ysparticleheadshot cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 align=left border=0 hspace="5" vspace="5"><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>One of the usual exercises during baseball's collective-bargaining negotiations goes something like this: Owners ask for a system to pay draft picks pre-determined bonuses. The union says no. And after that short dalliance, they discuss bigger, more important things.
Only last year was different. The owners wouldn't budge. They had a plan. The baseball draft was broken – controlled, they believed, by rogue agents who threatened to send their players back to school or, heaven forbid, an independent league, if their demands for large bonuses weren't met – and they wanted to fix it.
Never mind that the real problem with the draft was that the worst teams don't end up with the best players because they're too cheap to fork over top dollar. And that agent Scott Boras, the king of draft-pick holdouts, does so because first-round bonuses have not changed significantly since 1999, even though baseball's revenues are closing in on $6 billion – more than double the $2.8 billion of eight years ago.
Whatever. Facts never get in the way of a good plan, right?

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The owners proposed and received an Aug. 15 cutoff date for signing draft picks. And they still instituted their slotting system, silently of course, cutting bonuses between 5 and 10 percent across the board, according to two scouting directors. Perhaps they can use that extra money to create a fragrance: Eau de Collusion.
Anyway, with less than two days remaining until the clock strikes midnight Wednesday, 11 of the 30 first-round draft picks remain unsigned, including Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5. Scouting directors and agents are engaged in their usual game of chicken, only because MLB lords over the draft and urges every team to stick to slot, it's like they're driving Yugos that won't crack 20 mph. It's all building toward a conclusion that could see some of the best players go unsigned, an embarrassing turn for a plan that was supposed to be the draft's glue instead of the sledgehammer that crushed it.
"They bartered for this in collective bargaining," one agent said. "Players gave it to them. Now that they have it in hand, they can't try to complain about it if it backfires."
For the most part, executives are confident deals will get done. Everyone has heard scuttlebutt that a few above-slot deals have been agreed upon, their announcement delayed so the exact numbers don't leak, but gossip cruises through baseball's pipelines like old ladies playing Mah Jongg.
Tampa Bay can't afford to let No. 1 pick David Price return to Vanderbilt for his senior season, even though his cost likely spiked with the news late Monday that Detroit gave Boras client Rick Porcello, the high school pitcher who dropped to 27th because of signability issues, a $7.3 million major-league contract. The Chicago Cubs are reportedly close to signing high school third baseman Josh Vitters, the No. 3 pick.
Perhaps that will create a market for the No. 2 pick, Mike Moustakas, chosen by Kansas City and represented by Boras, who also has catcher Matt Wieters (No. 5 to Baltimore) and the other player aside from Porcello who plummeted because of signability worries, North Carolina State right-hander Andrew Brackman (30th to the New York Yankees).
"Ultimately, you'll just see a trickle effect of guys signing the 14th and 15th," said one AL scouting director whose pick remains unsigned. "This forces clubs and players to make a decision. It helps colleges because it allows them the opportunity to know on the 15th whether they're going to get their players.
"It may take some Tums, but it's a good thing."
Is it, though? Kansas City drafted Moustakas because they viewed him as an easier sign than Porcello, exactly the kind of backward scenario that allowed the Tigers, annual slot-ignorers, to nab Justin Verlander, Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller the three previous years. The Royals have exceeded slot the last two years to sign Alex Gordon and Luke Hochevar, and they don't want to feel the wrath of MLB at Thursday's owner's meetings for paying Moustakas more than the suggested $3.15 million.
Owner David Glass finds himself in a precarious position: Do right by the system or do right by his team?
The money is certainly there, with the $60 million or so in revenue sharing and central-fund dollars the Royals rake in. As is the incentive: For a franchise starting its ascent back toward credibility, losing Moustakas to USC would make Kansas City look positively cheap. Even though the Royals would get the No. 3 pick in next year's draft – the new rules award teams that don't sign the current year's pick one in the spot below the next season – the last pick as high as Moustakas not to sign was J.D. Drew, another Boras client, 10 years ago.
"Because you can't trade draft picks, the sole criteria for drafting is signability," Boras said Monday. "That's not how this system should work."
Some kind of a compromise with a slotting system and higher bonuses would probably fly, but the union doesn't want to set any kind of salary-ceiling precedents, and owners won't consider the possibility of trading draft picks, allowing smaller-market teams to cash in on players' value.
So we're stuck with a system that, at best, leaves things at their iffy status quo and, at worst, causes a 50-car pileup.
"I'm sure we'll look up in a day and a half and see all those guys signed," said an NL scouting director who signed his first-round pick for slot money. "Teams have too much to lose by not signing them."
That's a fact.
One, hopefully, their plan doesn't get in the way of.

Jeff Passan is a national baseball writer for Yahoo! Sports. Send Jeff a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.

Tigers sign Porcello.

http://tigers.mlb.com/news/article....t_id=2150111&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Royals sign the guy. Fuck Boras and the horse he road in on. Royals didn't budge. No major league contract as expected and a sign. This guy has all the makings of a stud. Hopefully it works out. They still need to change how the draft works though. It is fucking ridiculous with these dumb ass "slots".