After the first round of the 2010 draft, there was speculation that the Los Angeles Dodgers selected two sport star Zach Lee without the intention of signing him.  Lee was considered a difficult sign because of his strong commitment to LSU to play football.  The thinking went that if Lee did not sign, the Dodgers would get around the 29th pick in the 2011 and Los Angeles is strapped for money amidst the ownership struggle.

However, the Dodgers surprised everyone by signing Lee to a $5.25M contract.  More importantly, perhaps it debunked the theory that the Dodgers were just throwing draft picks. 

Though the Dodgers and Lee were fortunate to get a deal done, three clubs in the first round were not.  As such, in 2011, they will receive the pick after what they had in 2010 as compensation for failure to sign their draft pick.  Here's a list of who failed to sign and what pick the teams will be compensated with.

• Barret Loux, 2010 #6, Diamondbacks: Loux failed a physical and instead of taking a risk, the Diamondbacks chose to pass on signing the pitcher from Texas A&M and tak the #7 pick in the 2011 draft.  Loux will be granted unrestricted free agency as of September 1st.  
• Karsten Whitson, 2010 #9, Padres: Whitson was unable to come to terms with the Padres and instead will play baseball for the University of Florida starting this fall.  The Padres will receive the #10 pick in 2011.

• Dylan Covey, 2010 #14, Brewers: Similar to Loux, the Brewers discovered a medical condition, diabetes, during Covey's physical.  It's unclear exactly why contract negotiations broke down after this illumination, but many suspect Covey chose to attend San Diego University instead of going to Milwaukee so he could be closer to home and have family assistance dealing with the diagnosis.  The Brewers will receive the 15th pick in 2011. 
• Ryne Stanek: 2010 3rd round pick, Mariners: Stanek did not reach an agreement and will attend Arkansas.  The Mariners compensation pick will be in the third round, pick number to be determined.

The dust has finally settled on Monday's draftee signing deadline and reactions are beginning filter out about what did teams did and why. 

It was an eventful signing day with #1 overall pick Bryce Harper either coming close to ($9.9M) or surpassing ($10.9M) Mark Teixeira's record for signing bonus by a position player ($10M) depending upon how you determine the value of the contract.  Harper's contract is structured as such where if he hits some reasonably attainable bonus clauses, the value could escalate above $10M, surpassing Teixeira's record. 

Beyond Harper and the large bonuses given out to many of the top picks, another big story was the large number of first round draft picks who did not sign with their team.  While the total of three may not seem very high, it is the most since the 1996 first round.  All three unsigned players were pitchers - Barret Loux (#6, Diamondbacks), Karsten Whitson (#9, San Diego) and Dylan Covey (#14, Milwaukee). 

Let's take a look at what people are saying:

• Keith Law of espn.com writes that the Harper deal was good for both sides (Insider subscription required).  Law also addresses the shock of the Zach Lee signing by the Dodgers and the curiosity behind Whitson's decision not to go to the Padres.  
• Baseball America's John Manuel covers many of the same topics as Law did in his signing breakdown as well as commenting on Nick Castellanos's record deal for a supplemental round pick with the Tigers.
• Nathan Rode of Baseball America provides a post-signing interview with Harper.  
• Keith Law gives his analysis of how each team fared at the signing deadline.  Broken down by league - AL and NL
• Jim Callis of Baseball America writes a sentence or two about the notable first round signings.

We are just hours away from today's deadline to sign player selected in June's amateur draft and the rumors are starting to swirl about who will sign and for how much.  In the interim, a number of non-first round draft picks continue to sign for over market value.

As always, Jim Callis and Aaron Fitt from Baseball America leads the pack in breaking this news.

• Pepperdine RHP Cole Cook signed with the Indians for $299K.  As a fifth round pick, the 150th overall, the recommended slot bonus is $169,200.
• Florida State outfielder Tyler Holt, a 10th round pick by the Cleveland Indians, also agreed to a $500K signing bonus with the Indians ($350K over).

• The Marlins signed high school shortstop/catcher JT Realmuto to a $600K signing bonus.  Realmuto was the 104th pick of the draft in the third round, a slot bonus recommendation of $309,600.
• High school catcher Will Swanner, a 15th round pick by the Rockies, agreed to a $490K signing bonus, $340K in excess of the recommendation.  
• Jake DePew, a high school catcher and ninth round pick by the Rays, signed for $460K, $310K over the slot recommendation.
• Jared Lakind, a high school first baseman, agreed to a $400K signing bonus with the Pirates.  A 23rd round pick, Lakind's deal was $250K over slot recommendation.
• The Padres have signed high school outfielder Jose Dore to a $450K signing bonus, three times the slot recommendation for an eighth-round pick.  

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While there have been rumors of Michael Choice, the 10th pick of the 2010 draft, signing with Oakland, nothing definitive has come out indicating that a deal is done.  In fact, for quite a while now movement on first round signings has been quiet.  That's not all that surprising as many are expected to take their contract negotiations down to the wire. 

In the meantime, we get to speculate on when, how and if players will sign.  Jason Churchill of espn.com and Jonathan Mayo of mlb.com did the honors for us recently with their evaluations of how the first round signing talks are going. 

Four of the top five picks have yet to sign (#4 Christian Colon has already agreed to a $2,75M signing bonus) and all indications look like all four will go down to the wire with their negotiations.  Mayo also lumps UNC pitcher Matt Harvey, the #7 pick by the Mets, and Yasmani Grandal, the #12 pick by the Reds, into that group.  The deadline to sign 2010 draft picks is August 16, 2010.

Texas A&M pitcher Barrett Loux, the #6 pick, failed his physical with the Diamondbacks making thing complicated.  Both Churchill and Mayo compare his situation with that of Padres reliever Tim Stauffer, the #4 pick in 2003.  One alternative, Churchill writes, is to not sign Loux and take the 7th pick in the 2011 draft.

Mayo writes that the #8 pick, Delino DeShields Jr., is expected to sign with the Astros before the deadline.

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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.  

A review of the first round of the 2010 draft.

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: Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton, SS

5) Cleveland Indians: Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss, LHP
6) Arizona Diamondbacks: Barret Loux, Texas Tech, RHP
7) New York Mets: Matt Harvey, UNC, RHP
8) Houston Astros: Delino DeSheilds Jr., Woodward Park Academy, 2B
9) San Diego Padres: Karsten Whitson, Chipley HS, RHP
10) Oakland As: Michael Choice, UT-Arlington, OF
11) Toronto Blue Jays: Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech, RHP
12) Cincinnati Reds: Yasmani Grandal, Miami, C
13) Chicago White Sox: Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast, LHP
14) Milwaukee Brewers: Dylan Covey, Marantha HS, RHP
15) Texas Rangers: Jake Skole, Blessed Trinity HS, OF

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We've presented mock drafts from a number of different writers and publishers and multiple versions of their mock drafts.  With just a few hours left before the draft, it is time for Baseball Rumor Mill's shot at a mock draft of tonight's first round.

1) Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper, College of Southern Nevada, C
Little left to say here as this pick is set in stone.

2) Pittsburgh Pirates: Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, RHP
Multiple reports have the Pirates taking Taillon

3) Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado, Brito HS, SS
This pick is down to Taillon or Machado, whomever Pittsburgh doesn't take

4) Kansas City Royals: Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast, LHP
Rumors about a pre-draft deal with Yasmani Grandal are falling apart.  The Royals have been rumored to want to keep costs down anyway, so Sale makes sense.

5) Cleveland Indians: Yasmani Grandal, Miami, C
If the rumors about the Indians upping the Royals offer are true, Grandal will go here.

6) Arizona Diamondbacks: Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss, LHP
All reports have Pomeranz going here

7) New York Mets: Zack Cox, Arkansas, 3B
His rumored salary demands could send him tumbling, but the Mets have money and the big names have all gone in front of them.

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Plenty of draft news to pass along this morning.

• First, here's today's draft order for reference.
• The Padres are considering a center fielder with their pick (#9) write John Maffei of the North County Times.  UT-Arlington outfielder Michael Choice and Ball State 2B/OF Kolbrin Vitek are options for the Padres.  New assistant GM Jason MacLeod ran the drafts for the Red Sox before coming to San Diego with general manager Jed Hoyer prior to the season.
• The Rockies have been frequently linked to local prospect Kevin Gausman, but Troy E. Renick of the Denver Post writes that they're also considering high schoolers Aaron Sanchez and Nick Castellanos.  I'm not sure Castellanos will last to the Rockies at #26.

• Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette feels that the Pirates will take Manny Machado over Jameson Taillon with the second pick.  
• The Orioles are fine with settling for Taillon, writes Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
• Jim Callis of Baseball America disagrees with Finder and thinks the Pirates will go for Taillon.  The Pirates do not have a history of taking high school pitchers so high, so I tend to lean towards them going with Machado as well.  Many people have Machado ranked higher as well and I can't imagine either player will be less expensive than the other.  However, espn.com's Buster Olney heard that Pittsburgh is going with Taillon and espn.com's Keith Law has Taillon at #2 in his latest mock draft. 
• Toronto is considering Delino DeShields Jr., Josh Sale, and Deck McGuire with the 11th pick writes Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun.  Elliott also insinuates that the Blue Jays have a good budget for this year's draft.  IF that's the case, Sale seems like the pick here as he'll likely be more expensive than McGuire.

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

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