Mock Draft Rumors

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

Jonathan Mayo of mlb.com has given us a number of mock drafts over the past month which can all be viewed here.  For his mock draft prior to this one, click here.

But, those are all in the past.  Let's get to his most recent mock draft published this morning.

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

Keith Law from espn.com gave us his new Top 10.  For previous Top 10s and predictions from Keith Law and others, click here.

1. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
2. Dustin Ackley, Mariners
3. Donovan Tate, Padres
4. Tony Sanchez, Pirates
5. Aaron Crow, Orioles
6. Tyler Matzerk, Giants
7. Zach Wheeler, Braves
8. Tanner Scheppers, Reds
9. Jacob Turner, Tigers
10. Chad Jenkins, Nationals.

Notes

• Law does not like Mike Minor to the Padres at #3.  Jonathan Mayo does.  
• Yesterday, Jason Churchill of espn.com passed along the rumor that Ackley was going to ask for money money than Pedro Alvarez.  Keith Law hasn't found any verification of this rumor.
• Kyle Gibson's lower velocity in his most recent outing is due to "forearm stiffness" which is what the young pitcher told Law.  A number of teams have backed off because of it.  
• The Rockies appear to be very interested in high school pitcher Matt Hobgood, but more likely with the 32nd pick and not the 11th.  Tim Wheeler or Alex White seem like their preference with 11.
• High schooler Max Walla seems to be an option for the Angles with one of their sandwich picks.
• Jake Stewart is a favorite of Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Philadelphia.
• The Reds, Tigers and Rangers continue to scout Scheppers heavily.

First we got Jonthan Mayo's Top 10 picks.  Then he gave us his Top 20 picks.  Now he puts together a mock draft of the entire first round.  For Keith Law's possible Top 10, click here.  For Keith Law's mock draft of the first round, click here.

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

Keith Law of espn.com put together possible Top 10 draft board based on rumors he's heard in the last 24 hours along with other news and notes about the draft.

1. Nationals - Stephen Strasburg
2. Mariners - Tanner Scheppers
3. Padres - Dustin Ackley
4. Pirates - Tony Sanchez
5. Orioles - Aaron Crow
6. Giants - Tim Wheeler
7. Braves - Alex White
8. Reds - Tyler Matzek
9. Tigers - Jacob Turner
10. Nationals - Kyle Gibson

This example has the Mariners passing on Ackley, which seems unlikely, but it'd drastically change the draft.  Law has also heard that the Giants prefer a college position player to a high school pitcher.

More Rumors

• Scouts from the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Phillies were down in Texarkana to watch outfielder Slade Heathcott play.  The Diamondbacks first pick is #16 while the Yankees first pick at #29.  The Phillies do not have a pick until #75 and Heathcott is unlikely to last that long.
• Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington was in Boston recently to see Tony Sanchez play for Boston College.  They pick #4 and #49 and Sanchez is not going to make it to 49, so perhaps the Pirates are considering Tony with the fourth overall pick.  
• Deven Marrero and Stephen Baron had stellar workouts at the Florida High School All-Star event in Sebring, FL and have improved their draft stock.
• The Cardinals hope to get a college arm with their first pick at #19, but if not, they're considering Chad James.
• Another possibility for the Cardinals is Kyle Heckathorn who has also drawn interest from the Diamondbacks (picks 16 and 17), Blue Jays (#2) and Angels (#24 and #25).
• The Blue Jays also like Heckathorn's teammate, Chad Jenkins.

Last week Jonathan Mayo of mlb.com post his Top 10 predictions. This week, Mayo updated his previous Top 10 and added 10 more picks giving us 20 predictions.

1. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
2. Dustin Ackley, Mariners
3. Mike Minor, Padres
4. Aaron Crow, Pirates (last week: Alex White)
5. Zach Wheeler, Orioles (last week: Crow)
6. Tyler Matzek, Giants (last week: Mike Trout)
7. Shelby Miller, Braves (last week: Wheeler)
8. Tanner Scheppers, Reds (last week: Kyle Gibson)
9. Jacob Turner, Tigers (last week: Matzek)
10. Chad Jenkins, Nationals
11. Kyle Gibson, Rockies
12. Tony Sanchez, Royals
13. Alex White, As
14. Matthew Purke, Rangers
15. Rex Brothers, Indians
16. Mike Leake, Diamondbacks
17. Bobby Borchering, Diamondbacks
18. Eric Arnett, Marlins
19. Grant Green, Cardinals
20. Drew Storen, Blue Jays

Keith Law of espn.com put together his initial mock draft of the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft.  Interesting to compare his picks to those of Jonathan Mayo of mlb.com who made his selections last week.

1. Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg, RHP San Diego State
2. Seattle Mariners: Dustin Ackley, OF UNC
3. San Diego Padres: Aaron Crow, RHP Fort Worth Cats
4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Bobby Borchering, 3B/1B Bishop Verot HS, FL
5. Baltimore Orioles: Tanner Scheppers, RHP St. Paul Saints
6. San Francisco Giants: Tyler Matzek, LHP Capistrano Valley HS, CA
7. Atlanta Braves: Zach Wheeler, RHP East Paulding HS, GA
8. Cincinnati Reds: Grant Green, SS USC
9. Detroit Tigers: Jacob Turner, RHP Westminster Christian Academy, MO
10. Washington Nationas: Kyle Gibson, RHP Missouri
11. Colorado Rockies: Alex White, RHP UNC
12. Kansas City Royals: Wil Myers, C/3B Wesleyan Christian HS, NC
13. Oakland Athletics: Matt Hobgood, RHP Norco HS, CA
14. Texas Rangers: Shelby Miller, RHP Brownwood HS, TX
15. Cleveland Indians: Mike Leake, RHP Arizona State
16. Arizona Diamondbacks: AJ Pollock, OF Notre Dame
17. Arizona Diamondbacks: Tyler Skaggs, LHP Santa Monica HS, CA
18. Florida Marlins: Rex Brothers, LHP Lipscomb
19. St. Louis Cardinals: Mike Minor, LHP Vanderbilt
20. Toronto Blue Jays: Kyle Heckathorn, LHP Kennesaw State
21. Houston Astros: Chad James, LHP Yukon HS, OK
22. Minnesota Twins: Drew Storen, RHP Stanford
23. Chicago White Sox: Mike Trout, OF Millville HS, NJ
24. Los Angeles Angels: Billy Bullock, RHP Florida
25. Los Angeles Angels: Reymond Fuentes, CF Fernando Callego HS, Puerto Rico
26. Milwaukee Brewers: Matt Davidson, 3B Yucaipa HS, CA
27. Seattle Mariners: Eric Arnett, RHP Indiana
28. Boston Red Sox: Max Stassi, C Yuba City HS, CA
29. New York Yankees: Matt Purke, LHP Klein HS, TX
30. Tampa Bay Rays: Tommy Joseph, C Horizon HS, AZ
31. Chicago Cubs: Brett Jackson, OF California
32. Colorado Rockies: Tim Wheeler, CF Sacramento State

Jonathan Mayo of mlb.com predicted how the Top 10 of the upcoming 2009 MLB Draft will go:

1. Stephen Strasburg, RHP San Diego State: This pick is basically all but completed in most experts eyes from a talent perspective. The only question is his signability, especially after the Nationals couldn't sign Aaron Crow last year.
2. Dustin Ackley, 1B/OF UNC: While Ackley isn't quite the lock that Strasburg is, his recent performance will make it very difficult for the Mariners to select someone else.
3. Mike Minor, LHP Vanderbilt: The Padres are known to be looking for a pitcher and Minor is another player who's stock has risen because of a strong finish to the season.
4. Alex White, RHP UNC: Unless Ackley slips to the Pirates, they'll likely take a pitcher with this pick. Other options here include Crow or Kyle Gibson.
5. Aaron Crow, RHP Fort Worth Cats: The Nationals pain is the Orioles gain. Crow has spent the past season with the Fort Worth Cats of the Independent League after the Nats could not sign him in 2008.
6. Mike Trout, OF Millville Senior High School, NJ: Trout would be the first high school player off the board and the Giants have been rumored to be heavily scouting the prep star.
7. Zach Wheeler, RHP East Paulding High School, GA: The Braves have been linked to Wheeler for a while now, but Tyler Matzek is another option for them here. Even though Wheeler would be the first high school pitcher taken off the board here, Jason Churchill of espn.com doesn't even have Wheeler in his top 3.
8. Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri: The Reds are looking for an arm and the only question is which one falls to them.
9. Tyler Matzek, LHP Capistrano Valley High School, CA: There doesn't seem to be any specific rationale for whom the Tigers will take and they'll likely take whom they consider the best player left available.
10. Chad Jenkins, RHP Kenesaw State: The Nationals may look to reach with this pick and get a player who will sign below his draft slot in order to save some money because they're going to have to spend a lot to get Strasburg.