The 18th overall pick of the 2010 draft high schooler Kaleb Cowart has agreed to a $2.3M signing bonus with the Los Angeles Angels according to John Manuel of Baseball America.  The MLB slot recommendation for the 18th pick is approximately $1.4M, meaning Cowart received almost a $900K premium on his signing.

Cowart's deal is the second largest of the 2010 draft so far, trailing only the $2.75M signing bonus that Cal State Fullerton SS Christian Colon received from the Royals as the fourth pick of the draft.  However, certainly a number of other first round picks are expected to exceed both Cowart and Colon's signing bonus.

Along with excelling as a pitcher, Cowart played third base this past season as well and had a spectacular season at the plate: .654 with 11 home runs, 55 runs, 16 doubles, 59 RBIs and 36 stolen bases.  He was equally impressive as a pitcher: In 73 innings he allowed just 35 hits and 24 walks while striking out 116.  Manuel notes that most scouts prefer Cowart as a pitcher.

The Los Angeles Angels had a slew of picks in the first and supplemental rounds (five of the Top 40) but after Cam Bedrosian and Chevez Clarke's recent signings, only their first pick high school shortstop Kaleb Cowart remains unsigned. 

Angels first round draft pick Chevez Clarke

High school pitcher Cam Bedrosian the #29 pick of this year's draft signed a $1.116M signing bonus reports Jim Callis of Baseball America.  With the very next pick, the Angeles took high school outfielder Chevez Clarke who Callis reports signed for slightly less than Bedrosian - $1.089M.  In an interesting quirk, both players got $9,000 over the 2009 signing bonus recommendations for the 29th and 30th pick.

For a complete list signings, visit our Draft Pick Signing Bonus page.

The number of signed draft picks continue to increase and we had a few more announced recently. Jim Callis from Baseball America and Michael Huang from The Sporting News provide the news about the recent signings.

Visit our Draft Pick Signing Page for a complete list of first round draft picks signing bonuses and status.

• Chris Sale, considered one of the best college pitchers available in this year's draft, agreed to a $1.656M signing bonus with the White Sox.  Callis notes that while the signing bonus is within MLB's slot recommendation, it is far below what the normal best college pitchers receive in the draft.  

• The 49th overall pick first baseman Michael Olt agreed to a $717,200 signing bonus with the Rangers.  Olt's signing bonus is similar to last year's 49th pick. 
• The Mariners signed high school pitcher Taijuan Walker to a $800K signing bonus.  The 43rd pick of the draft, Walker's signing bonus is slightly above the MLB slot recommendation, but beneath that of what the 43rd pick signed for last year.
• Taylor Lindsay agreed to a $873,000 signing bonus with the Angels.  It was reported last week that Lindsay signed, but terms had not yet been released.

After being selected in the first round or supplemental round of the 2010 Draft on June 8th, 2010, teams and players had until August 16th, 2010 at 11:59pm to agree to a signing bonus and begin their professional career or head to college.  The only exception to this rule are college seniors with whom there is no set time table for when they have to sign.

1) Washington: Bryce Harper - $9.9M signing bonus
2) Pittsburgh: Jameson Taillon - $6.5M signing bonus
3) Baltimore: Manny Machado - $5.25M signing bonus
4) Kansas City: Christian Colon - $2,75M signing bonus
5) Cleveland: Drew Pomeranz - $2.65M signing bonus
6) Arizona: Barret Loux - Did not sign, failed physical
7) New York Mets: Matt Harvey - $2.5M signing bonus
8) Houston: Delino DeSheilds Jr. - $2.15M signing bonus
9) San Diego: Karsten Whitson - No contract signed, will attend Florida
10) Oakland: Michael Choice - $2M signing bonus
11) Toronto: Deck McGuire - $2M signing bonus
12) Cincinnati: Yasmani Grandal - $3.2M signing bonus
13) Chicago White Sox: Chris Sale - $1,656M signing bonus
14) Milwaukee: Dylan Covey - Did not sign, will attend San Diego
15) Texas: Jake Skole - $1.557M signing bonus
16) Chicago Cubs: Hayden Simpson - $1.06M signing bonus
17) Tampa Bay: Josh Sale - $1.62M signing bonus
18) Los Angeles Angels: Kaleb Cowart - $2.3M signing bonus
19) Houston: Mike Foltynewicz - $1.3M signing bonus
20) Boston: Kolbrin Vitek - $1.359M signing bonus
21) Minnesota: Alex Wimmers - $1.332M signing bonus
22) Texas: Kellin Deglan - $1M signing bonus
23) Florida: Christian Yelich - $1.7M signing bonus
24) San Francisco: Gary Brown - $1.45M signing bonus
25) St. Louis: Zack Cox - $3.2M signing bonus
26) Colorado: Kyle Parker - $1.4M signing bonus
27) Philadelphia: Jesse Biddle - $1.16M signing bonus
28) Los Angeles Dodgers: Zach Lee - $5.25M signing bonus
29) Los Angeles Angels: Cam Bedrosian - $1.116M signing bonus
30) Los Angeles Angels: Chevez Clarke - $1.089M signing bonus
31) Tampa Bay: Justin O'Conner - $1.025M signing bonus
32) New York Yankees: Cito Culver - $954K signing bonus

Supplemental Round

33) Houston: Michael Kvasnicka - $936K signing bonus
34) Toronto: Aaron Sanchez - $775K signing bonus
35) Atlanta: Matt Lipka - $800K signing bonus
36) Boston: Bryce Brentz - $892K signing bonus
37) Los Angeles Angels: Taylor Lindsey - $873K signing bonus
38) Toronto: Noah Syndergaard - $600K signing bonus
39) Boston: Anthony Ranaudo - $2.55M signing bonus
40) Los Angeles Angels: Ryan Bolden - $829K signing bonus
41) Toronto: Asher Wojciechowski - $814K signing bonus
42) Tampa Bay: Drew Vettleson - $845K signing bonus
43) Seattle: Taijuan Walker - $800K signing bonus
44) Detroit: Nick Castellanos - $3.45M signing bonus
45) Texas: Luke Jackson - $1.557M signing bonus
46) St. Louis: Seth Blair - $751K signing bonus
47) Colorado: Peter Tago - 982,500 signing bonus
48) Detroit: Chance Ruffin - $1.15M signing bonus
49) Texas: Mike Olt - $717K signing bonus
50) St. Louis: Tyrell Jenkins - $1.3M signing bonus

We are eleven days after the 2010 draft and the signings continue to roll in.  There were a number of sandwich round picks who signed recently along with some first round signing rumors.

Check our signing bonus page for a complete list of first round signings.

• The Blue Jays signed The Citadel pitcher Asher Wojciechowski to a $814,500 signing bonus writes Jim Callis of Baseball America.  Wojciechowski was the 41st pick of the draft in the compensation round.

• Callis also reports that the 40th pick, high school outfielder Ryan Bolden got $15,300 more from the Angels, signing for $829,800.  
• The Blue Jays signed two more of their compensation round picks, high school pitchers Aaron Sanchez (34th) and Noah Syndergaard (38th) for less than slot money, writes Michael Huang of The Sporting News.  Each also got less than Wojciechowski, despite being picked ahead of him.  Sanchez signed for $775K while Syndergaard signed for $600K.
• West Virginia infielder and second round pick Jedd Gyorko signed with the Padres according to a team press release.  Terms were not disclosed.
• Similarly, the White Sox agreed to terms with second round pick Jacob Petricka, a pitcher from Indiana State, and pitchers Addison Reed (San Diego State) and Thomas Royse (Louisville) both third round picks. 
• Ball State outfielder Kolbrin Vitek's signing bonus with the Red Sox is reported as $1,359M.  Jim Callis notes that it is the same amount as the 20th pick in the 2009 draft, Chad Jenkins, received.  

For the first 32 picks of the first round of the 2010 MLB draft, click here.

33) Houston Astros: Michael Kvasnicka, Minnesota, C
34) Toronto Blue Jays: Aaron Sanchez, Barstow HS, RHP
35) Atlanta Braves: Matt Lipka, McKinney HS, SS
36) Boston Red Sox: Bryce Brentz, Middle Tennessee State

37) Los Angeles Angels: Taylor Lindsey, Desert Mountain HS, SS
38) Toronto Blue Jays: Noah Syndergaard, Legacy HS, RHP
39) Boston Red Sox: Anthony Ranaudo, LSU, RHP
40) Los Angeles Angels: Ryan Bolden, Madison Central HS, OF
41) Toronto Blue Jays: Asher Wojciechowski, The Citadel, RHP
42) Tampa Bay Rays: Drew Vettleson, Central Kitsap HS, OF
43) Seattle Mariners: Taijuan Walker, Yucaipa HS, RHP

Continue Reading...

More draft rumor links to pass along as we get closer to the start of the draft at 7pm.  As a reminder, we'll be live blogging the draft starting at 7pm.

• The Royals reported pre-draft deal for Miami C Yasmani Grandal was for $2.9M and Frankie Piliere of AOL Fanhouse reports that the Indians, selecting at #5, have topped that offer.  Piliere opines that the Royals will still take Grandal at #4, but that a new deal will have to be negotiated.  In his mock draft, espn.com's Keith Law writes that no pre-draft deal was in place between Grandal and the Royals and that the Royals are now looking to take Florida Gulf Coast lefty Chris Sale.  Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star confirms that report.

• Jim Callis of Baseball America suggests that the Royals could go a completely different route and not take Grandal or Sale.  Another option is to take Grandal or Sale and if they don't sign, the Royals have the #5 pick in the 2011 draft.
• Tony Wolters has been linked to the Braves who's first pick is #35, but Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus tweets that the high school infielder is being looked at by the Angels who pick at #18, #29 and #30 or the Blue Jays in the compensation round.
• Goldstein also believes that Drew Vettleson is a possibility for the Dodgers at #28.

Jonathan Mayo of mlb.com gives us his spin on how the first round of Monday's draft will play out.

1) Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper, College of Southern Nevada, C
2) Pittsburgh Pirates: Manny Machado, Brito HS, SS
3) Baltimore Orioles: Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, RHP
4) Kansas City Royals: Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast, LHP
5) Cleveland Indians: Yasmani Grandal, Miami, C
6) Arizona Diamondbacks: Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss, LHP
7) New York Mets: Michael Choice, UT-Arlington, OF
8) Houston Astros: Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech, RHP
9) San Diego Padres: Kolbrin Vitek, Ball State, 2B

10) Oakland As: Zack Cox, Arkansas, 3B
11) Toronto Blue Jays: Josh Sale, Bishop Blanchett HS, OF
12) Cincinnati Reds: Bryce Brentz, Middle Tennessee State, OF
13) Chicago White Sox: Barret Loux, Texas Tech, RHP
14) Milwaukee Brewers: Nick Castellanos, Archbishop McCarthy HS, 3B
15) Texas Rangers: Brandon Workman, Texas, RHP

Continue Reading...

Keith Law of espn.com presents his most recent mock draft.  Here's his new take on the first round.

1) Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper, College of Southern Nevada, C
2) Pittsburgh Pirates: Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, RHP
3) Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado, Brito HS, SS
4) Kansas City Royals: Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast, LHP
5) Cleveland Indians: Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss, LHP
6) Arizona Diamondbacks: Matt Harvey, UNC, RHP
7) New York Mets: Zack Cox, Arkansas, 3B
8) Houston Astros: Josh Sale, Bishop Blanchett HS, OF
9) San Diego Padres: Karsten Whitson, Chipley HS, RHP

10) Oakland As: Michael Choice, UT-Arlington, OF
11) Toronto Blue Jays: Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton, SS
12) Cincinnati Reds: Yasmani Grandal, Miami, C
13) Chicago White Sox: Asher Wojciechowski, The Citadel, RHP
14) Milwaukee Brewers: Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech, RHP
15) Texas Rangers: Delino DeSheilds Jr., Woodward Park Academy, 2B

Continue Reading...

Jason Churchill of espn.com has a few draft rumors to pass along in his latest post.

• Despite being considered a Top 10 picks, Miami C Yasmani Grandal is looking for a big pay out and thus could slip.  If Toronto and Cincinnati pass on Grandal at #11 and #12, respectively, the next teams likely to take the hot hitting catcher would be Tampa Bay (17), Los Angeles Angels (18) or Boston (20).

• The Red Sox have been heavily linked to LSU pitcher Anthony Ranaudo, but would they have to rethink their priorities if Grandal slipped to them at 20?  Based simply on talent, Grandal should never get to them, but if he does the Sox are thin at catcher in the organization and may have to pass up on Ranaudo even if he could be major league ready sooner.
• High school outfielder Josh Sale is expected to go in the Top 10, with Houston at #8 as a likely spot.  However, there are rumblings that the Astros are considering UT-Arlington product Michael Choice with that pick, a move that could drop Sale significantly.  Unfortunately for the Astros, he's unlikely to make it to them again at #19.

To read the entire article, visit espn.com.