Mike Minor
Rumors

Keith Law of espn.com has a few notes about the progress of draft pick signings at the bottom of his latest post.

For an update on the status of first round draft picks, click here.

• MLB has ruled that players selected out of independent leagues are not subject to the Aug 17th deadline to sign 2009 draft picks "as long as they were drafted after their junior year of college, subsequently signed pro contracts with non-affiliated clubs, and were drafted again the following June without playing college ball in between." This means that Aaron Crow and Tanner Scheppers can hold out as long as they want.
• Though Brooks Hall was seen as a tough sign because of his commitment to South Carolina, the Brewers remain confident they'll get him signed.
• With Mike Minor's recent contract signing, Law feels that Mike Leake will sign with Cincinnati soon.

A number of random signings to pass along, most of them from the lower rounds. For an update on the status of first round draft picks, click here.

• The Braves signed Mike Minor to a record deal.
• Tyler Skaggs, the 40th overall picks, signed with the Angels. No terms were disclosed.
• The Diamondbacks signed the 41st overall pick, Chris Owings, to a $950K deal.
• Colton Cain, an 8th round pick for the Pirates, inked an astonishing $1.125M signing bonus.
• The Pirates also signed fourth round pick Zackry Dodson.
• Tanner Scheppers agent is setting up workouts for the pitcher with "about a half dozen Japanese teams." Scheppers was the 44th overall pick of the 2009 MLB draft to the Texas Rangers.
• The Royals signed their 14th round pick, Crawford Simmons, to a $450K bonus.

The August 17th deadline to sign plays from the 2009 MLB Draft is fast approaching. We'll use this page to update the signing status of all the first round picks.

The deadline for players to sign is August 17, 2009

1. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals - Despite speculation that he would not signed, agreed to a $15M contract. (updated 8/17/09)
2. Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners - Agreed to a $7.5M signing bonus. (updated 8/17/09)
3. Donovan Tate, San Diego Padres - Instead of going back to UNC to play football, signed a contract with a 6.25M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09)
4. Tony Sanchez, Pittsburgh Pirates - Signed a well-publicized contract before the draft
5. Matt Hobgood, Baltimore Orioles - Signed a contract
6. Zach Wheeler, San Francisco Giant - Signed for $3.3M (updated 8/17/09)
7. Mike Minor, Atlanta Braves - Signed a contract with a record $2.42M signing bonus (updated 8/8/09)
8. Mike Leake, Cincinnati Reds - Agreed to a $2.2M contract (updated 8/15/09)
9. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers - Received a Rick Porcello-like signing bonus of $5.5M (updated 8/17/09)
10. Drew Storen, Washington Nationals - Signed a contract
11. Tyler Matzek, Colorado Rockies - Rumors were that it would take a lot of money to keep Matzek away from Oregon: signed for $3.3M (updated 8/17/09)
12. Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals - Agreed to a $3M contract with the Royals (updated 9/21/09)
13. Grant Green, Oakland As - Agreed to a $2.75M signing bonus (updated 8/15/09)
14. Matt Purke, Texas Rangers - Decided to go to college instead of signing with the Rangers (updated 8/17/09)
15. Alex White, Cleveland Indians - Got a bit less than Minor, $2.25M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09)
16. Bobby Borchering, Arizona Diamondbacks - Agreed to a contract with a $1.8M signing bonus (updated 8/15/09)
17. AJ Pollock, Arizona Diamondbacks - Signed a contract
18. Chad James, Florida Marlins - Agreed to a $1.7M contract (updated 8/15/09)
19. Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals - Inked a $2.875M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09).
20. Chad Jenkins, Toronto Blue Jays - Signed for $1.359M (updated 8/15/09)
21. Jiovanni Mier, Houston Astros - Signed a contract
22. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins - Signed a $1.8M contract (updated 8/17/09)
23. Jared Mitchell, Chicago White Sox -Signed a contract
24. Randal Grichuk, Los Angeles Angels -Signed a contract
25. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels - Signed a contract
26. Eric Arnett, Milwaukee Brewers - Signed a contract
27. Nick Franklin, Seattle Mariners - Signed for $1.28M (updated 8/15/09)
28. Reymond Fuentes, Boston Red Sox - Signed a contract
29. Slade Heathcott, New York Yankees - Agreed to a $2.2M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09)
30. LeVon Washington, Tampa Bay Rays - Ultimately did not sign with the Rays (updated 8/17/09)
31. Brett Jackson, Chicago Cubs - Signed a contract
32. Tim Wheeler, Colorado Rockies - Signed a contract

Jason Churchill of espn.com has a signings update from the 2009 MLB Draft class.

For an update on the status of first round draft picks, click here.

• Only three of the top ten picks have signed: Tony Sanchez - #4 with Pittsburgh, Matt Hobgood - #5 with Baltimore and Drew Storen - #10 with Washington.
• Scott Boras represents six of the top ten picks and will likely take all of them to the Aug 17 deadline. Negotiations with the #1 pick Stephen Strasburg (Washington), #2 pick Dustin Ackley (Mariners) and #3 pick Donovan Tate (Padres) have not progressed very far and all three are Boras clients.
• The #11 pick, Tyler Matzek, still has not signed with Colorado and is inching closer to going to college at Oregon. A report form the Denver Post indicates that the sides are still not close on any agreement. Matzek has also been told he can play the field while not pitching at Oregon, something he would not be able to do in the Rockies system, for the moment anyway.
• Matt Purke could be another high school pitcher who, along with Matzek, could go to college instead of signing. The #14 pick overall by the Texas Rangers, Purke has very high signing demands and with their recent financial trouble, the Rangers might not be able to accomodate.
• Mike Minor, the #7 pick, and the Braves are making progress towards signing a contract.
• When Minor signs, that will be the first domino to fall for the rest of the college pitchers drafted beneath him. The Reds (#8 Mike Leake), Royals (#12 Aaron Crow) and Indians (#15 Alex White) are all waiting to see what Minor signs for before finalizing deals with their players.
• There is word at the bottom of this Keith Law posting that Wil Myers is close to signing for $2M (despite being a fourth round draft pick) with the Royals.

Earlier we posted Keith Law of espn.com's review of Day One of the 2009 MLB Draft. Let's check in on his thoughts about Day Two.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates opened eyes with their controversial pre-draft deal for Tony Sanchez and then took him with the #4 pick of the draft, well ahead of several better talents according to most evaluators. Their approach to the draft was not to spend a lot of money in Round 1, but perhaps splurge a little bit in the later rounds on some talent with higher salary demands than might be normally seen in the later rounds. The Pirates added Jordan Cooper, Zach Van Rosenberg, Colton Cain and Trent Stevenson - all players who feel because of signability concerns.

Oakland Athletics

Hopefully the As are prepared to spend some money on their amateur draft because they grabbed guys who have potential signing issues. Their second round pick was Max Stassi who fell because of the perception that he'll require over draft slot money. The grabbed Ian Krol who was booted from his high school team for some off the field issues and is committed to Arizona and will take some money to wrestle free. Last, but not least, their first round pick was Grant Green who is represented by Scott Boras.

Tampa Bay Rays

Injury questions are a theme of the Rays draft. They grabbed a potential first round pick, Luke Bailey, who fell to them because of Tommy John surgery earlier in the year. Their 10th round pick, Derek Dennis, is kind of an unknown because of how late he blossomed.

Los Angeles Angels

We'll let Keith Law handle this one perfectly "The Angels' draft was all over the place, with toolsy prep bats, big college arms with bad command and some projectable high school arms"

Atlanta Braves

For whatever reason, the Braves have seemingly changed their draft philosophy from an upside-high school based approach to a more conservative college-based one. Their first pick was Mike Minor who, while solid, doesn't project to have much upside. All in all, they didn't take a high schooler until the 10th round. Perhaps they were not interested in the financial commitment high schoolers often require.

Here's a review of the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft.

1. Washington Nationals - Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State University
2. Seattle Mariners - Dustin Ackley, OF, UNC
3. San Diego Padres - Donovan Tate, OF, Cartersville HS, GA
4. Pittsburgh Pirates - Tony Sanchez, C, Boston College
5. Baltimore Orioles - Matt Hobgood, RHP, Norco HS, CA
6. San Francisco Giants - Zach Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS, GA
7. Atlanta Braves - Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt
8. Cincinnati Reds - Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State
9. Detroit Tigers - Jacob Turner, RHP, Westminster Christian Academy, MO
10. Washington Nationals - Drew Storen, RHP, Stanford
11. Colorado Rockies - Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS, CA
12. Kansas City Royals - Aaron Crow, LHP, Fort Worth Cats
13. Oakland As - Grant Green, SS, USC
14. Texas Rangers - Matt Purke, LHP, Klein HS, TX
15. Cleveland Indians - Alex White, RHP, UNC
16. Arizona Diamondbacks - Bobby Borchering, Bishop Verot HS, FL
17. Arizona Diamondbacks - AJ Pollock, OF, Notre Dame
18. Florida Marlins - Chad James, LHP, Yukon HS, OK
19. St. Louis Cardinals - Shelby Miller, RHP, Brownwood HS, TX
20. Toronto Blue Jays - Chad Jenkins, RHP, Kennesaw State
21. Houston Astros - Jiovanni Mier, SS, Bonita HS, CA
22. Minnestoa Twins - Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri
23. Chicago White Sox - Jared Mitchell, CF, LSU
24. Los Angeles Angels - Randal Grichuk, LF, Lamar Cons HS, TX
25. Los Angeles Angels - Mike Trout, CF, Millville Sr. HS, NJ
26. Milwaukee Brewers - Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana
27. Seattle Mariners - Nick Franklin, SS, Lake Brantley HS, FL
28. Boston Red Sox - Reymond Fuentes, CF, Fernando Callejo HS, CA
29. New York Yankees - Slade Heathcott, OF, Texas HS, TX
30. Tampa Bay Rays - LeVon Washington, 2B, Buchholz HS, FL
31. Chicago Cubs - Brett Jackson, CF, University of California - Berkeley
32. Colorado Rockies - Tim Wheeler, OF, Cal State - Sacramento

For picks 1-5, 11-15, 16-20, 21-26 and 27-32 click on the links.

6:39pm With the sixth pick of the 2009 MLB Draft, the San Francisco Giants select Zach Wheeler.  The Atlanta Braves are now on the clock.

6:41pm The Braves have to be disappointed here, they were very high on Wheeler.  You also wonder if the Giants thought they had a chance at Wheeler with all the reports of the Orioles taking him.

6:42pm Word from Paul DePodesta of the Padres is that Donovan Tate was always at the top of their board and they consider him the best athlete in the draft.

6:44pm With the seventh pick of the 2009 MLB Draft, the Atlanta Braves select Mike Minor.  The Cincinnati Reds are now on the clock.

6:45pm Minor was likely the Braves third choice here behind Wheeler and Tate, both Georgia natives.  Minor is a very safe pick for the Braves, however.

6:46pm Chad Jenkins and Drew Storen are likely options for the Reds with this pick.  They were hoping to get Minor, but the fallout from the Hobgood pick continues.

6:48pm With the eighth pick of the 2009 MLB Draft, the Cincinnati Reds select Mike Leake.  The Detroit Tigers are on the clock.

6:50pm Another curveball as the Reds pass on the high school and semi-pro players and go with Leake.  There's now plenty of high school pitching left for the Tigers if they're interested.

6:53pm Baseball Rumor Mill Best Available: Tyler Matzek, Alex White, Jacob Turner

6:54pm With the ninth pick of the 2009 MLB Draft, the Detroit Tigers select Jacob Turner.  The Washington Nationals are now back on the clock.

6:55pm Interesting to see guys like Matzek, White and Crow fall.  I know that White struggled towards the end of his season, but I'd be curious why Matzek and Crow are falling.  Crow was the 9th pick of the 2008 draft and couldn't reach a deal with the Nationals.  He's now going to go 11th or later as the Nationals are not going to take him with their pick here.

6:59pm With the tenth pick of the 2009 MLB draft, the Washington Nationals select Drew Storen.  The Colorado Rockies are now on the clock. 

7:00pm Storen has been their guy at #10 for quite a while (a while in 'rumorland' at least) and they got their man.

The espn.com draft team of Keith Law and Jason Churchill have five (yes, FIVE!) draft updates for us today.  You can find each of them here, here, here, here and here.  We'll summarize them for you in one convenient location...below.

• The Pirates are interested in Tony Sanchez, Zach Wheeler, Matt Hobgood and Grant Green.
• Law likes the following: Wheeler to Baltimore, Tyler Matzek to San Francisco and Alex White to Atlanta. 
• The Braves like Matt Purke but don't want to pay him over slot.
• Atlanta's choice is between White and Mike Minor.  Churchill thinks Drew Storen is in the mix at #7 too.
• The Reds would like Minor, but if the Braves take him Chad Jenkins and Storen are options for them.
• Jenkins and Storen are also options for the Nationals at #10
• Churchill says that is Storen gets past the Nationals at #10, he might fall all the way out of the first round.  The Angels and Mariners like him, but likely do not have him high enough on their draft boards to select him in the 20s.  The Twins have some interest in Storen, but prefer Billy Bullock.
• Bobby Borchering may be the favorite to the Rockies at #11, even over Hobgood.
• If the Rockies do take Borchering at #11, the Diamondbacks will take AJ Pollock and Matt Davidson with their picks at 16 and 17.
• If Kansas City takes Mike Leake with #12 - and indications are that they are seriously considering it - Oakland would then choose between Green, Mike Trout and possibly Donovan Tate.
• Max Stassi worked out for the Red Sox this morning.
• St. Louis is rumored be interested in Purke.
• Detroit might not want to spend the money that Purke and Jacob Turner are rumored to be demanding.  If so, Rex Brothers and Chad James become options for them at #9.  The Tigers have also been linked to Borchering, Mike Trout and Reymond Fuentes.
• The Padres like Donovan Tate at #3, but if they feel they can't afford him, they'll go with Wheeler.  That would mean the Orioles take Hobgood.

Finally, Keith Law's latest Top 15.

1. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
2. Dustin Ackley, Mariners
3. Tate, Padres
4. Sanchez, Pirates
5. Wheeler, Orioles
6. Matzek, Giants
7. White, Braves
8. Minor, Reds
9. Turner, Tigers
10. Storen, Nationals
11. Borchering, Rockies
12. Leake, Royals
13. Green, As
14. Shelby Miller, Rangers
15. Brothers or Eric Arnett, Indians

Bob Elliot of The Toronto Sun put together his predictions for the first round of tonight's draft.  For previous mock drafts, click here.

1. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
2. Dustin Ackley, Mariners
3. Tyler Matzerk, Padres
4. Aaron Crow, Pirates
5. Alex White, Orioles
6. Zach Wheeler, Giants
7. Drew Storen, Braves
8. Mike Minor, Reds
9. Jacob Turner, Tigers
10. Chad Jenkins, Nationals
11. Rex Brothers, Rockies
12. Grant Green, Royals
13. Mike Leake, As
14. Shelby Miller, Rangers
15. Eric Arnett, Indians
16. Andrew Oliver, Diamondbacks
17. Bobby Borchering, Diamondbacks
18. Mike Trout, Marlins
19. Tanner Scheppers, Cardinals
20. AJ Pollock, Blue Jays
21. Matt Purke, Astros
22. Wil Myers, Twins
23. Tony Sanchez, White Sox
24. Matt Hobgood, Angels
25. Jeff Malm, Angels
26. Jared Mitchell, Brewers
27. Rich Poythress, Mariners
28. Max Stassi, Red Sox
29. Donovan Tate, Yankees
30. Everett Williams, Rays
31. Slade Heathcott, Cubs

A bunch of links to pass along about tonight's draft.  We'll sort them by team and in draft order.

• If the Mariners surprise everyone and pass on Dustin Ackley, the Padres have the money available to take him with the #3 pick writes Chris Jenkins of The San Diego Union-Tribune.  If Ackley is gone, as expected, Donovan Tate appears to be the front runner.
• Carroll Rogers of The Atlanta Journal Constitution notes that the Braves could continue their trend of drafting local talent with either Zach Wheeler or Donovan Tate, if he's available.  Alex White and Mike Minor are other options for the Braves with the seventh pick.
• Troy Renek of The Denver Post suggests that the Rockies do not play it safe with this draft.
• The Royals hope to find a shortstop in the draft, writes Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star.
• The Rangers will continue their draft modus operandi of drafting the best available player with each pick writes Jeff Wilson of The Dallas Morning News.  Jason Churchill approves.
• The Indians have not hit on a first round draft pick since CC Sabathia in 1998, so they are feeling pressure to get their pick this year, #15, right writes Dennis Manoloff of The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• With a plethora of picks in tonights draft, including #16 and #17, the Diamondbacks have employed a "hybrid" approach to scouting according to Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic.  It is an 'all hands on deck' approach where scouts are watching all levels of player (high school, college, latin, international) and even major league personel are getting involved in the amateur scouting.
• Tom D'Angelo of The Palm Beach Post writes that the Marlins are looking to improve their amateur pitching in tonight's draft.
• The Astros had a successful draft (so far) in 2008 and hope to replicate those efforts tonight reports Zachary Levine of The Houston Chronicle.
• The Twins seem to be eschewing Churchill's suggestion of not drafting for need and are hoping to find pitching and middle infield help in tonight's draft.
• In an effort to improve their bullpen this year, the Angels might look to take Billy Bullock or Drew Storen with one of their first picks (#24 and #25) writes Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times.
• Tom Haudricourt of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that he Brewers pick #26 tonight, the lowest they've selected sin 1983.
• Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein recalls the years when not as much attention was given to the amateur draft.
• The Rays believe they'll get some talent they like with the 30th pick according to Marc Topkin of The St. Petersburg Times.