2013 Rule 4 Draft Signings

[boylan]

Intentionally pick guys they don't think they can sign? Why would a team do that, if that is what you are saying? What is the strategy play? Draft picks are a limited resource.

 

He's right. Teams sign about half the players they draft, maybe a little more. When they get to the last half of the draft they are filling organizational needs so they have full teams and occasionally take a flyer on someone they don't expect to sign but occasionally does for one reason or another.

 

If you are drafted in the 36th round and have better options that getting paid $5,000 and living in someone's spare bedroom for the summer with very little likelihood of even making A+ you might not sign.

[B Richard]

Intentionally pick guys they don't think they can sign? Why would a team do that, if that is what you are saying? What is the strategy play? Draft picks are a limited resource.

 

Agree with what the other guys said on this, but I'd also add that there is the benefit of not allowing another team to draft him after and throw extra money at him. You get the additional benefit of playing "defense", though that was certainly not the top objective.

[cmb0252]

Where in the world did you see this?

 

As an aside, I'm not convinced that Gonsalvez is even going to get slot.

 

Darren Wolfson tweeted :

 

This might be a waste of time because its so obvious: a #mntwins official confirms there's a zero percent chance to sign Logan Shore.

[nicksaviking]

No team signs all their picks. Twins most likely will sign 26-28 out of their 40 picks. After Shore wasn't picked in the top rounds of the draft there was no way to sign him. Twins grab a local kid for PR and the kid gets to say he was drafted by the Twins but choose college. Possible good will gesture for 3-years from now. Win-win for both sides.

 

Plus you never know, an ill-timed dead-hooker-in-the-trunk traffic stop might cause his college to rescind the scholarship which would force him to take the Twins offer.

[boylan]

Darren Wolfson tweeted :

 

This might be a waste of time because its so obvious: a #mntwins official confirms there's a zero percent chance to sign Logan Shore.

 

That's amusing. So it was a total PR pick. I wondered why he went so late.

[Mike Sixel]

Thanks, appreciate the education. Always good to learn.

[cmb0252]

Damn Twins need to start signing people! Every time I see a signing update it's never the Twins. I'm ready to see these kids play.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Plus you never know, an ill-timed dead-hooker-in-the-trunk traffic stop might cause his college to rescind the scholarship which would force him to take the Twins offer.

 

Wow! That's a pleasant thought.

 

That sounds like Godfather Part II: I'll give you my answer now, Senator. My offer is nothing. Not even the cost of the gaming license which I would appreciate if you put up yourself.

[golfboy1]

Intentionally pick guys they don't think they can sign? Why would a team do that, if that is what you are saying? What is the strategy play? Draft picks are a limited resource.

 

They are never going to sign all their picks so it's not a big deal. The Diamonbacks drafted Cory Hahn, who is paralyzed. IIRC some team drafted a female pitcher recently.

 

It's PR...a feel good move & it doesn't prevent them from drafting anyone who they think they have a chance to sign. You can only draft so many good fielding crappy hitting backup catchers in one draft.

[markos]

Intentionally pick guys they don't think they can sign? Why would a team do that, if that is what you are saying? What is the strategy play? Draft picks are a limited resource.

 

I think either Jeremy or Seth pointed out in their podcast that using those late picks on players who probably won't sign can be used as a kind of insurance in case there is an unexpected injury for a top player. Hypothetically, imagine Ryan Eades blows out his arm in the CWS and needs Tommy John surgery. Instead of signing for $1.2M, he agrees to sign for $200K. If the Twins wanted to, they could spend that extra $1M on one of their later picks like Shore.

[markos]

Damn Twins need to start signing people! Every time I see a signing update it's never the Twins. I'm ready to see these kids play.

 

I agree!

[golfboy1]

Plus you never know, an ill-timed dead-hooker-in-the-trunk traffic stop might cause his college to rescind the scholarship which would force him to take the Twins offer.

 

He signed with Florida, right? It's going to take more than that.

[James]

Am I mistaken, or even if a highschool kid goes undrafted, he could then sign as a free agent with a team, right? Picking a guy in the draft means that no other team can sign him for a year and he has to enter the draft when eligible again.

 

This is all off of the top of my head, so I'm not sure if that is 100% accurate. But picking a HS kid that should be a top talent prevents him from signing with another team and gives your team a chance to redraft him later.

 

I thought that was how it worked, but I could be a little off base there.

[nicksaviking]

Damn Twins need to start signing people! Every time I see a signing update it's never the Twins. I'm ready to see these kids play.

 

Yeah, I've been biting my tongue because I didn't want to be labled impatient. I guess it doesn't matter much long term but when you see that the A's have signed 25 picks and the Royals 18 it gets a bit frustrating. I wonder if there is any issue with Eades and Slegers as they are still pitching. They are low leverage college guys, perhaps the Twins feel they need to nail those two down underslot first so they know what they have left for the HS kids.

 

Or it could just be that they are the same slow and conservative club we've grown accustomed to.

[cmb0252]

Yeah, I've been biting my tongue because I didn't want to be labled impatient. I guess it doesn't matter much long term but when you see that the A's have signed 25 picks and the Royals 18 it gets a bit frustrating. I wonder if there is any issue with Eades and Slegers as they are still pitching. They are low leverage college guys, perhaps the Twins feel they need to nail those two down underslot first so they know what they have left for the HS kids.

 

Or it could just be that they are the same slow and conservative club we've grown accustomed to.

 

Haha, I'm fine being called impatient. While I understand signing this week or next week doesn't matter in the long run I want to see our new toys! It just seems everyone had hand shake agreements but us!

 

Also, guys that are still playing in the CWS never sign till they are eliminated from the tourney.

[nicksaviking]

Haha, I'm fine being called impatient. While I understand signing this week or next week doesn't matter in the long run I want to see our new toys! It just seems everyone had hand shake agreements but us!

 

Also, guys that are still playing in the CWS never sign till they are eliminated from the tourney.

 

 

Yeah, that's why I assume this could be reason for the delay. I forgot to include DeMuth in that explanation but those were 3 of the top 8 picks, all of whom the Twins may target with underslot deals.

 

Doesn't explain why Stewart isn't signed though. All indications were that there WAS a handshake deal in place. He's also only thrown 40 innings this year, there should be plenty of innings left on that arm to build experience and stamina though he's likely destined for a yet-to-start rookie league anyway.

[Vervehound]

Haha, I'm fine being called impatient. While I understand signing this week or next week doesn't matter in the long run I want to see our new toys! It just seems everyone had hand shake agreements but us!

 

Also, guys that are still playing in the CWS never sign till they are eliminated from the tourney.

 

the last few years the twins have published a list of 8-10 guys that have signed right after the draft - i'm guessing something will be out by end of week. we've got short season ball starting up next week so rosters are driving a certain amount of it.

 

if a guy thinks he got missed and winds up bagging groceries at cub, most teams still offer try out camps.

[Vervehound]

Am I mistaken, or even if a highschool kid goes undrafted, he could then sign as a free agent with a team, right? Picking a guy in the draft means that no other team can sign him for a year and he has to enter the draft when eligible again.

 

This is all off of the top of my head, so I'm not sure if that is 100% accurate. But picking a HS kid that should be a top talent prevents him from signing with another team and gives your team a chance to redraft him later.

 

I thought that was how it worked, but I could be a little off base there.

 

if a kid goes to a four year college, he'd wouldn't be eligible to be re-drafted until his junior season (or the year he turns 21, whichever is soon). if he goes the jc or indy route, then he'd be eligible again in a year.

[James]

if a kid goes to a four year college, he'd wouldn't be eligible to be re-drafted until his junior season (or the year he turns 21, whichever is soon). if he goes the jc or indy route, then he'd be eligible again in a year.

I forgot about the JC thing.

 

But what if a HS kid doesn't get drafted. Can he be signed as an undrafted free agent if he chooses not to go to college? It definitely would not be a traditional approach, but I'm wondering if this is why some teams choose a player that they are not going to sign to prevent a talented player from trying to do this.

[cmb0252]

The Rockies just signed Gray and for 800,000+ underslot . that's a lot of money to use elsewhere.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

It appears that C.K. Irby's signing is imminent. I expect a bunch of announcements Friday.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

But what if a HS kid doesn't get drafted. Can he be signed as an undrafted free agent if he chooses not to go to college? It definitely would not be a traditional approach, but I'm wondering if this is why some teams choose a player that they are not going to sign to prevent a talented player from trying to do this.

 

Very non-traditional, but it happened last year. I believe the rule, though, is that they are not eligible to sign until the first day of their college session (don't ask why).

 

The Twins did this at one point in the 90s (I think) with an outfielder who's name escapes me.

[roger]

The reason Stewart hasn't signed could be financial planning. Remember Mauer took several weeks before signing. In his case, he had to become a Florida resident first to not pay Minnesota taxes. Like Florida, I don't believe Texas has a state income tax. But there are lots of reasons a player's financial peope will take some time to get his planning in place before accepting the check!

[cmb0252]

It appears that C.K. Irby's signing is imminent. I expect a bunch of announcements Friday.

 

Hopefully you are right. I'm ready for some signings so we can start debating who is going where.

[gil4]

Last year the Twins signed all of their top 10 except #9. They had to make darned sure they took care of that one early this year.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Turner, Navaretto, Peterson and Mildren are all set to sign after undergoing physicals.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Mildren signs for $100k. The largest bonus a non-top-10 pick can get w/o dipping into spending pool.

[Smcginnity]

This Mildren kid looks/sounds pretty solid. Not a bad get for the 12th round! Here's the writeup on him:

 

Pitt's Mildren faces big decision about baseball future | TribLIVE

[Vervehound]

Very non-traditional, but it happened last year. I believe the rule, though, is that they are not eligible to sign until the first day of their college session (don't ask why).

 

The Twins did this at one point in the 90s (I think) with an outfielder who's name escapes me.

 

you're probably thinking of bobby kielty - but that was an undrafted senior sign, I believe.

 

in short, If a kid doesn't get drafted, he goes to jc or college (indy ball would be the route for the undrafted college kid). the former gives him more flexibility but would be more of a crapshoot from a developmental standpoint (although schools like chipola in florida would beg to differ).

[drjim]

Unsigned FAs still count against the pool if they exceed $100k.