Yasmani Grandal
Rumors

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

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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A few more last minute mock drafts to pass along in the hours ticking down before tonight's draft.  Frankie Piliere from AOL Fanhouse and Jonathan Mayo from mlb.com.

So what's interesting about their versions?

• Bryce Harper, Jameson Taillon, Manny Machado, Yasmani Grandal, Chris Sale and Drew Pomeranz go in order, #1 through #6 on both.  #1 through #3 seems fairly set in stone at this point, but Grandal to the Royals is anything but determined.  They've been rumored on Sale as well, so if they pass on Grandal, that'll affect the next 5-10 picks significantly.
• Mayo has the Reds taking Brett Eibner at #12.  Very high for the Arkansas product who has been left out of the first round of many mock drafts.
• Similarly, Piliere has the Reds taking OSU pitcher Alex Wimmers higher than expected at #12 too.  Wimmers has frequently been rumored to be headed to Minnesota at #21.  Mayo has Wimmers going #15 to Texas.

• Another new high placement is high school pitcher Jesse Biddle going to the Brewers at #14 according to Piliere.
• Piliere has the Red Sox taking LSU pitcher Anthony Ranaudo at #20, one of the most common rumors.  Mayo, does not, however, and goes with the second most common Red Sox rumor, Ball State 2B/OF Kolbrin Vitek.  Mayo does not have Ranaudo in the first round at all.
• Mayo has Arkansas third baseman Zack Cox going #7 to the Mets.  Pilere, however, supports our speculation that salary demands will send his draft stock tumbling and puts him at #22 to the Rangers.

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.

Jim Callis of Baseball America and Keith Law of espn.com give their latest mock drafts of tonight's first round.  Here are some interesting aspects of each version.

• Both have Jameson Taillon going to the Pirates with the second pick.  This has been widely rumored this morning, culminating with Nick James of PNR Scouting saying he received a text saying a deal between Taillon and the Pirates has been consummated.  This almost certainly means high school shortstop Manny Machado will go to the Orioles with the third pick.

• Law has Miami C Yasmani Grandal going to the Royals at 4, but Callis has Kansas City taking Chris Sale.  Frankie Piliere from MLB Fan House tweets that the Indians are trying up the Royals rumored deal for Grandal in order to get him ate #5.
• Law has Texas A&M pitcher Barrett Loux going to the Diamondbacks at #6.  Certainly the highest we've seen him rumored.  Same with Law putting Delino DeShields Jr. to the Astros at #8.  Callis has the pair going #13 to the White Sox and #11 to the Blue Jays, respectively.

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Today will be filled with draft rumors, a lot of it coming from Twitter.  Let's see what's being said this morning.

• Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated suggests that it might not be a bad idea for the Nationals to take Bryce Harper's brother, Bryan Harper, at some point.  The elder Harper is not a day one draft pick, so if it were to happen, it would not be until tomorrow anyway, but he'll likely be drafted by someone.
• Baseball America's Jim Callis wonders about the rumors of Arkansas third baseman Zack Cox looking for Pedro Alvarez money.  Alvarez signed for $6.3M back in 2008.  I have to figure that'll drop Cox's draft position asking for so much money.

• Miami C Yasmani Grandal has been rumored to have agreed to a pre-draft deal with Kansas City at pick #4.  Frankie Piliere of MLB Fan House isn't positive the deal is finalized. 

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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The NCAA tournament began on Friday with regional play and a number of prospects were in action.  While most teams have determined their draft slot for most players a spectacular or poor performance could tweak where players are drafted.  There are a number of prospects in play for the first round, but only 32 will make it so performance might bump a player in or out of the first round. 

One guy who's on the fringe of the first round is Arkansas two-way player Brett Eibner.  According to a Razorbacks press release, he became the ninth player in Arkansas history to belt three home runs in one game after hitting three in a 19-7 defeat of Grambling.  While he also throws for Arkansas, Jason Churchill of espn.com notes that Eibner has told scouts he wants to be a hitter.

Also on the fringe of the first round (though likely further away than Eibner) is Minnesota pitcher Seth Rosin.  Throwing against sure-fire first round pick Christian Colon of Cal State Fullerton, Rosin was very sharp leading the Gophers in the upset of the top seed.  Rosin went eight innings giving up just one run on three hits and no walks while striking out 12.  Dave Perkin of Baseball America writes that "Rosin projects as a top-three-rounds choice in next week’s draft."

Rosin's teammate, Michael Kvasnicka has also been getting first round buzz and Perkin even writes that the Mets are considering him with the 7th overall pick.  This is the first time we've heard anything about Kvasnicka that high, otherwise he's been largely off the first round buzz.  Perhaps this is in reaction to news that the Royals will take Yasmani Grandal with the fourth pick.