The draft is over and teams have two weeks to sign their draftees, as well as undrafted players.
Use this thread to report signings.
Use this thread to report signings.
NDFA Nate LaRue catcher Auburn Univ
https://twitter.com/AuburnBaseball/status/1679162694350565376
https://twitter.com/AuburnBaseball/status/1679162694350565376
Larue was drafted in the 25th round by the Jays in 2019. Was the 148th ranked prospect by BA that year.
"Hit" .177/282/298 with 5 taters and 18BB/58 K's in 141 AB last year with Auburn.
Maybe he will go into politics if his baseball career doesn't pan out, like his long lost relative, Johnny.
"Hit" .177/282/298 with 5 taters and 18BB/58 K's in 141 AB last year with Auburn.
Maybe he will go into politics if his baseball career doesn't pan out, like his long lost relative, Johnny.
LaRue also spent a little time on the mound so they could eventually move him to the mound like Danner and last year's NDFA catcher Jerry Huntzinger.
16th rounder Jackson Hornung says he will sign.
11th rounder Grant Rogers indicates he will sign according to @MatthewJTravis_ https://twitter.com/MatthewJTravis_
I think Ducey is confusing Johnny Larue with Tommy Shanks.
I'm sure a lot of people on here remember SCTV. Johnny LaRue was a parody of Hugh Hefner, wearing a similar bathrobe with his initials in big letters on it and often surrounded by scantily-clad women who were called 'gerbils'. Tommy Shanks was the mayor of Melonville. Both characters were played by the late John Candy. Man, I still miss him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66hLNY-D13A
Johnny Larue in fact ran for City council :)
Johnny Larue in fact ran for City council :)
Thoughts on the Jays draft from Kiley McD at ESPN. The numbers in brackets are his pre-draft rankings.
RHP Landen Maroudis (75) was the shortstop and often closer for one of the top prep teams in the country but showed three above-average pitches and the athletic ability to allow you to imagine him sticking as a starter. 2B Sam Shaw (139) has big power and some feel to hit.
Oklahoma State RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (60) didn't take the big jump some expected this spring but is still a potential third/fourth starter. Michigan LHP Connor O'Halloran (251) is a solid command type, while Kansas State infielder Nick Goodwin (238) looks like a solid utility type. I still don't know why Arkansas RF Jace Bohrofen (59) lasted as long as he did, and if he signs for close to slot in the sixth round, it'll be one of the steals of the draft. He could be a low-end everyday type.
RHP Landen Maroudis (75) was the shortstop and often closer for one of the top prep teams in the country but showed three above-average pitches and the athletic ability to allow you to imagine him sticking as a starter. 2B Sam Shaw (139) has big power and some feel to hit.
Oklahoma State RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (60) didn't take the big jump some expected this spring but is still a potential third/fourth starter. Michigan LHP Connor O'Halloran (251) is a solid command type, while Kansas State infielder Nick Goodwin (238) looks like a solid utility type. I still don't know why Arkansas RF Jace Bohrofen (59) lasted as long as he did, and if he signs for close to slot in the sixth round, it'll be one of the steals of the draft. He could be a low-end everyday type.
After seeing Nimmala taking BP in the RC, I imagine he'll sign for slot.
The excitement for this prospect is real.
The excitement for this prospect is real.
9th rounder Sam Shaw has signed for around $110k over slot.
Nimmala has signed. I haven't seen any bonus numbers yet.
I believe the draft camp starts this week so look for more signings. Plus the deadline is just over a week away.
Jim Callis says he signed for $3M, over $740,000 under slot.
Great to hear a team owned by a multi-billion dollar corporation reportedly stiffs a 19 yr old for over $700,000.
I kid.
I kid.
Canadian middle infielder Bryce Arnold signs with Blue Jays as an undrafted free agent. Native of Grimsby, Ont., posted a 1.050 OPS at Campbell University this past season.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) July 17, 2023
Would you feel better if I told you the kid was only 17?
just watching one of the Nimmala videos that has him walking around with two others in Jays jerseys
#4 Maroudis
#5 O'Halloran
signed?
https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1680980462234136580/video/2
#4 Maroudis
#5 O'Halloran
signed?
https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1680980462234136580/video/2
Yeah, makes me feel a lot better I blew the punchline,
I'm sure they'll be able to get Maroudis signed with the Nimmala savings. O'Halloran is a slot-or-less pick.
From Jim Callis “4th-rder Landon Maroudis signs w/@BlueJays for $1.5 million (pick 121 value = $547,100). RHP, part of loaded Calvary Christian HS (Fla.) staff, fastball to 96 mph w/spin & ride, intriguing changeup. North Carolina State recruit. @MLBDraft”.
Maroudis signs for way over slot at $1.5M. That’s where the majority of the savings went…Great sign.
Not sure why teams don't give two way players like Maroudis a shot to both hit and pitch and see what happens after a couple of seasons. With the failure rate of prospects, could be a hedge for some prospects. If Ohtani got drafted as a HS prospect in North America, he would never had the chance to both pitch and hit. Could be the new market inefficiency.
Ohtani is an outlier on every way. There have been plenty of two way guys (Brendon McKay for example). Baseball is so damn hard though that focusing on one aspect of game makes sense for 99.9% of players. If Maroudis were an elite offensive prospect and an elite pitching prospect, someone would draft him for both but he's a good pitching prospect and a meh hitting prospect. Why let him keep hitting?
Teams have been giving players a shot at being two-way more frequently but it gets abandoned very quickly because they're always far more advanced in one area. Clubs don't want their assets being stuck in their development. It also splits focus away from both areas making the failure rate increase. Bubba Chandler and Masyn Winn are two recent prospects that come to mind that were originally two-way in pro ball.
The Giants have drafted 2 ways with their 1st round picks in 22 and 23
from Baseball America
6 Jace Bohrofen $ 302,200 (304,700)
10 Josh Mollerus $ 47,500 (166,200)
11 Grant Rogers $ 150,000
12 Chay Yeager $ 150,000
15 Kelena Sauer $ 150,000
16 Jackson Hornung $ 150,000
19 Aaron Munson $ 100,000
20 Kai Peterson $ 150,000
6 Jace Bohrofen $ 302,200 (304,700)
10 Josh Mollerus $ 47,500 (166,200)
11 Grant Rogers $ 150,000
12 Chay Yeager $ 150,000
15 Kelena Sauer $ 150,000
16 Jackson Hornung $ 150,000
19 Aaron Munson $ 100,000
20 Kai Peterson $ 150,000
Picks 3, 8 and 10 from the top ten are unsigned.
They are Juaron Watts-Brown, Braden Barry and Josh Mollerus. Mollerus is a 5 year college senior so he will probably sign under slot. The other two are college juniors.
They are Juaron Watts-Brown, Braden Barry and Josh Mollerus. Mollerus is a 5 year college senior so he will probably sign under slot. The other two are college juniors.
Pick 8, Braden Barry signs for $50k under slot.
And then there were two.
And then there were two.
Mendocino posted yesterday in this thread that #10 pick Mollerus signed for $47,500. I am sure he is right. So only 3rd round J Watts-Brown is unsigned from rounds 1-10. Round 3 is a protected pick I am sure (I think).
Unsigned so far are round 14,17 & 18. #13 Orf signed for $150K per Blue Bird Banter commentator. His source is J Callis.
#14 is RHP, 17 is 1B both college players. 18 is a HS outfielder.
Unsigned so far are round 14,17 & 18. #13 Orf signed for $150K per Blue Bird Banter commentator. His source is J Callis.
#14 is RHP, 17 is 1B both college players. 18 is a HS outfielder.
#14 Vogatsky likely signs
#18 Brunson, a HS OF who recently changed his college affiliation, almost certainly wont.
#17 Kulasingam - seems unclear. Maybe he gets an little bump once they deal with Brown
#18 Brunson, a HS OF who recently changed his college affiliation, almost certainly wont.
#17 Kulasingam - seems unclear. Maybe he gets an little bump once they deal with Brown
My recent thoughts on drafting and signing strategy.
The following is round 1, round 2 & 3. Pick # and slot value. There are comp picks but I will not give value but pick # is counted.
Pittsburg: Round 1,2,3. #1 $9,721,000, #42 $ 2,045,900, #73 $990,300.
Oakland: #6 $6,634,000, #41 $2,094,900, #72 $1,005,700.
Miami: #10 $5,475,300, #47 $1,825,300, #78 $916,000.
Boston: #14 $4,663,100, #50 $1,698,000, #83 $846,800.
Jays: #20 $3,746,000, Round 3 #89 $772,500.
Atlanta: #24 $3,270,500, #59 $ 1,369,300, #94 $714,100.
From the info I provided Round 1 $9.7-3.3mil. Round 2 $2.1-1.4mil and round 3 $1mil-$714,100. So if a player wants a $3+mil signing bonus he needs to be picked in round 1. So in the top 30 picks. But sometimes deals are made most likely under $3mil. My conclusion is that "all" 1st rounders should sign and get as close to $3mil as they can. Rounds 2 and later can gamble that next time they get picked in the 1st round and therefore not sign.
Austin Martin's $7mil bonus affected the rest of the Jays draft. Nimmala's $3mil also affected the Jays draft. Round 4 was signed using the savings. Our round 3 has to gamble that he can move up into round 1/2 his next draft if he chooses to not sign. Our round 19 pick Chase Brunson can bet on himself getting picked much higher over the next 3 years.
The following is round 1, round 2 & 3. Pick # and slot value. There are comp picks but I will not give value but pick # is counted.
Pittsburg: Round 1,2,3. #1 $9,721,000, #42 $ 2,045,900, #73 $990,300.
Oakland: #6 $6,634,000, #41 $2,094,900, #72 $1,005,700.
Miami: #10 $5,475,300, #47 $1,825,300, #78 $916,000.
Boston: #14 $4,663,100, #50 $1,698,000, #83 $846,800.
Jays: #20 $3,746,000, Round 3 #89 $772,500.
Atlanta: #24 $3,270,500, #59 $ 1,369,300, #94 $714,100.
From the info I provided Round 1 $9.7-3.3mil. Round 2 $2.1-1.4mil and round 3 $1mil-$714,100. So if a player wants a $3+mil signing bonus he needs to be picked in round 1. So in the top 30 picks. But sometimes deals are made most likely under $3mil. My conclusion is that "all" 1st rounders should sign and get as close to $3mil as they can. Rounds 2 and later can gamble that next time they get picked in the 1st round and therefore not sign.
Austin Martin's $7mil bonus affected the rest of the Jays draft. Nimmala's $3mil also affected the Jays draft. Round 4 was signed using the savings. Our round 3 has to gamble that he can move up into round 1/2 his next draft if he chooses to not sign. Our round 19 pick Chase Brunson can bet on himself getting picked much higher over the next 3 years.
Shi Davidi is reporting that round 3 pick, Juaron Watts-Brown is signing for $1M, about $200,000 above slot.
That seems to leave under $30,000 counting the 5% overage. So highly likely that wraps up the draft signings.
The 5 pm deadline has come and gone. Surprised Vogatsky didn't sign, not surprised Brunson didn't, and have no clue about Kulasingham - does he have to finish his Air Force commitment before he can sign, with the Jays holding his rights until then?