Thread for names mentioned in final week before draft

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LINK: Chippewa Falls native and University of Kentucky RHP Kyle Cody (Baseball America's 76th ranked draft prospect) would be happy to end up with the hometown team...

 

Cody plans to spend draft day hanging out with friends and family at his parent’s house in Chippewa Falls. He has no idea who to expect a call from or when that will be. Every team has shown interest in him at one point or another. He’d certainly be happy to go anywhere, but he’d love to stay in Wisconsin.

“The hometown team wouldn’t be the worst thing ever,” Cody said. “That would be a dream come true, growing up a Brewers fan.”

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LINK: Another article linking the Brewers to the aforementioned Kolton Kendrick.

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LINK: Another article referencing Garrett Whitley's visit to Milwaukee this past Friday.

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After lots of speculation and conversations with their industry sources, here are the FINAL mock drafts for baseball writers Kiley McDaniel, John Manual, Jim Callis, and Jonathan Mayo.

 

Fangraphs Mock Draft

 

15. Brewers – Walker Buehler, RHP, Vanderbilt

 

Buehler’s size and potential durability (or lack thereof) has some teams behind here and they’ve told me they won’t take him, but he’ll go somewhere in the top 25, with his range starting here and the Brewers onboard. Jon Harris also fits here and Kyle Funkhouser may move this high. Industry people generally believe this is the beginning of Brady Aiken’s range as well. Also heard a late rumor of Nolan Watson here.

 

Baseball America Mock Draft

 

15. Brewers – Kyle Funkhouser, rhp, Louisville

 

Milwaukee is tied to conservative college pitcher selections; the Brewers have been in on Cody Ponce of Division II Cal Poly Pomona and may go there if he’s available well below the slot. Louisville’s Kyle Funkhouser is perceived to have a higher ceiling and more durable body.

 

MLB.com Mock Draft

 

15. Brewers

Callis: RHP Kyle Funkhouser, Louisville

The Brewers like Ian Happ but won't pass up college pitching. Funkhouser might have been a top-five choice two months ago, and he has righted a late-season slump with two strong NCAA playoff starts.

 

Mayo: RHP Jon Harris, Missouri State

The Brewers appear to favor college arms here, with Funkhouser and James Kaprielian figuring into their mix. If they decide to go bat, they are looking at high school catcher Chris Betts.

[narwhalattack]

They had the Brewers connected to college guys last year too. Even if the Brewers draft HS guys for the next 100 years they'll probably predict college guys for them.

[Mudville9]

Who is Nolan Watson??? I have not seen his name at all?

[SRB]

I don't see why the Brewers would pick an under slot guy like Ponce or Watson at 15 unless they have a fairly firm deal in place to use the difference to sign a first-round talent who is slipping at 40.

 

Maybe they have an arrangement in place with one of the injured pitchers?

[narwhalattack]

I don't see why the Brewers would pick an under slot guy like Ponce or Watson at 15 unless they have a fairly firm deal in place to use the difference to sign a first-round talent who is slipping at 40.

 

Maybe they have an arrangement in place with one of the injured pitchers?

 

Or it could be Daz Cameron. Rumor has it that he could slip to the Astros at 37. But maybe even the Astros will pass on him at 37.

[SRB]

I don't see why the Brewers would pick an under slot guy like Ponce or Watson at 15 unless they have a fairly firm deal in place to use the difference to sign a first-round talent who is slipping at 40.

 

Maybe they have an arrangement in place with one of the injured pitchers?

 

Or it could be Daz Cameron. Rumor has it that he could slip to the Astros at 37. But maybe even the Astros will pass on him at 37.

 

He repeatedly wants $5M though, I don't think we could afford him. I was thinking more along the lines of two $2M guys at 15 and 40.

[Kelbysdaddy]

How the talent in this years draft compared to what is supposed to be available for next years drafts? From what i understand, this is a kinda down year. If it's supposed to be better next year, can you draft daz if he's available and not give him the insane bonus he wants and have 2 first rounders next year? Does it work like that?

[splitterpfj]

How the talent in this years draft compared to what is supposed to be available for next years drafts? From what i understand, this is a kinda down year. If it's supposed to be better next year, can you draft daz if he's available and not give him the insane bonus he wants and have 2 first rounders next year? Does it work like that?

 

Yes, theoretically, that could happen.

[brwrsfan]

How the talent in this years draft compared to what is supposed to be available for next years drafts? From what i understand, this is a kinda down year. If it's supposed to be better next year, can you draft daz if he's available and not give him the insane bonus he wants and have 2 first rounders next year? Does it work like that?

 

Yes. That's exactly what happened with Houston last year.

[SRB]

How the talent in this years draft compared to what is supposed to be available for next years drafts? From what i understand, this is a kinda down year. If it's supposed to be better next year, can you draft daz if he's available and not give him the insane bonus he wants and have 2 first rounders next year? Does it work like that?

 

I would be all over that strategy as an armchair GM, but in reality the Brewers seem one of the least likely teams to do it. We've already missed out on a first-rounder in a couple of the last few years, and it would be a big ask for us to pass again this year (because you lose the bonus pool money too, so you can't even make up for it in the second round). I think we need to bring in somebody good, which isn't to say I'm enamored with a conservative/low-ceiling pick.

[LouisEly]

How the talent in this years draft compared to what is supposed to be available for next years drafts? From what i understand, this is a kinda down year. If it's supposed to be better next year, can you draft daz if he's available and not give him the insane bonus he wants and have 2 first rounders next year? Does it work like that?

Yes, however it would put the Brewers in a position where they almost have to take a college player with that pick next year because a HS player, unless he has bad grades or comes from a poor family, would know he would have the leverage in that negotiation. That, or the Brewers would have to overdraft a HS guy who was more of a late 1st round (or later) talent who would be happy with mid-first round money.