MLB Teams Focus On Talent, Not Slotting Or Signability In Draft

MLB Teams Draft For Talent, Regardless Of Signability

PIRATES: The Pirates chose 3B Pedro Alvarez, who is repped by agent Scott Boras, with the No. 2 pick in the draft, and in Pittsburgh, Dejan Kovacevic writes the pick "invariably means an extended negotiation aimed at breaking precedents and breaking the bank." While Boras has not publicly commented on Alvarez, the industry buzz is that Boras "will seek a signing bonus in excess of $7[M]." However, there appears to be a "quiet confidence in the front office that a deal can be struck." Prior to Frank Coonelly joining the franchise as President in September, the Pirates "almost never exceeded the slotting" system, which assigns a suggested bonus amount for each pick. The team in '07 bypassed Boras client C Matt Wieters in favor of P Danny Moskos with the No. 4 pick (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/6). Also in Pittsburgh, Rob Biertempfel writes the Pirates "might be willing to hand over an immediate spot on the 40-man roster, if Boras will bend a little on the signing bonus" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 6/6). Callis said of the pick, "This is a new regime in (GM) Neal Huntington and Frank Coonelly in Pittsburgh and they're taking talent, they're not taking signability." ESPN's Steve Phillips: "Some small market teams are looking at signability instead of talent. The Pirates didn't do it in this situation. This is the right spot for Alvarez to be selected. Now the challenge is to get him signed" (ESPN2, 6/5).

CHANGING SIDES: Coonelly served as MLB Chief Labor Counsel before joining the Pirates, and Callis said, "I'm sure there are an awful lot of scouting directors right now gritting their teeth a little bit after all of the trouble that Frank Coonelly put them through when he worked for MLB, telling them, 'You shouldn't give these guys high bonuses.' And now Frank Coonelly is working for a team and they're going to give Pedro Alvarez a huge bonus, probably a major league contract. ... But I also think it sends a very positive message to Pittsburgh fans that we're doing business differently than we've done it in the past" (ESPN2, 6/5).

ROYALS: The Royals selected 1B Eric Hosmer with the No. 3 pick, and USA TODAY's White writes Hosmer "could be an expensive signing, but the Royals were able to get a deal done last year with first-round [P] Luke Hochevar, who, like Hosmer, is represented" by Boras (USA TODAY, 6/6). In K.C., Sam Mellinger notes the Royals for the third year in a row "selected a Boras player with their first pick" (K.C. STAR, 6/6). In Miami, Patrick Dorsey writes "only signability issues ... kept [Hosmer] from being a top-five lock in most projections." Hosmer Thursday "didn't want to discuss signing-bonus numbers" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/6).

NOTES: The Giants chose C Buster Posey with the No. 5 pick, and Callis said Posey's advisors Wednesday night were "floating a $12[M] price tag on him and you are seeing now here the Giants ... (not balking) at this. ... The Giants took him and you don't take these guys to force them into a slot. He's not going to sign for the slot at number five which is probably $2.5[M]." Meanwhile, ESPN’s Keith Law said the Reds selecting 1B Yonder Alonso with the No. 7 pick was "a surprise because he’s asking for about $8(M) and a major league deal." Law: "We have not seen the Reds go that far above slot in any recent draft. So it’s a continuation of the trend that started with Pittsburgh. Traditional small market teams that were only willing to pay slot bonuses willing to go over slot” (ESPN2, 6/5)....The Braves with the No. 40 pick selected P Brett DeVall, and in Atlanta, Carroll Rogers writes the Braves "don't expect a repeat of the [P] Joshua Fields situation of a year ago, when the Braves drafted [Fields] in the second round, and he didn't sign." Rogers: "Helping that cause is the fact that DeVall isn't a Scott Boras client" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/6).

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