The 2017 MLB Draft Thread (#9 Pick + #34 & #46)

[heresrobin]

I thought it was sort of an interesting opinion in the SI article linked by ZBTMP in the first posting of this thread that there are 5 college pitchers for next year who would have been picked in front of any college pitcher this year. That means potentially 5 college pitchers in next year's draft better than AJ Puk, who was picked 6th overall. Definitely seems like the initial strength of next year's draft class - and perhaps reiterates the weakness of this year's...

[MadThinker88]

I thought it was sort of an interesting opinion in the SI article linked by ZBTMP in the first posting of this thread that there are 5 college pitchers for next year who would have been picked in front of any college pitcher this year. That means potentially 5 college pitchers in next year's draft better than AJ Puk, who was picked 6th overall. Definitely seems like the initial strength of next year's draft class - and perhaps reiterates the weakness of this year's...

 

It's for this reason I would not be upset if the Brewers were unable to sign Ray. It would give the Crew the 5th pick in the 2017 draft.

While the Brewers would probably take a senior to ensure a signing, it would give the Crew a huge bonus pool for 2017.

[MilwaukeeBeers]

Man watching Seth Beer gets me excited. He's eligible in 2018 right? I'm all in on tanking for him.

[ZBTMP]

With a 5 days until the 15 July signing deadline, Braxton Garrett (1-7 MIA) and Jason Groome (1-12 BOS) remain unsigned. Garrett has Boras as an advisor and a Vandy commit to leverage. Miami hasn't signed its 3rd round pick either, signed away its 2nd round pick (Wei-Yin Chen) and traded away its competitive balance pick so it is light on pool money. If Garrett does not sign, the Brewers will drop to pick 10.

[reillymcshane]

With a 5 days until the 15 July signing deadline, Braxton Garrett (1-7 MIA) and Jason Groome (1-12 BOS) remain unsigned. Garrett has Boras as an advisor and a Vandy commit to leverage. Miami hasn't signed its 3rd round pick either, signed away its 2nd round pick (Wei-Yin Chen) and traded away its competitive balance pick so it is light on pool money. If Garrett does not sign, the Brewers will drop to pick 10.

Boston has roughly $4.2M of their draft pool left to sign Groome. He reportedly wanted a minimum of $4M to sign, but even then, there was some reports saying he wanted 'Top 4' slot money - which could be $5M or more. It also could simply be Groome being upset about Boston picking him - he supposedly had a deal in place with another team picking lower in the 1st round (likely SD), and was set on going there. Perhaps that was a sweetheart deal - $5M or something like that - and he feels he can wait another year.

 

I bet he signs - wringing every penny out of Boston that he can. $4M now or $5M next year (assuming nothing goes wrong, which is a lot to assume). I'm betting he takes the money now.

[reillymcshane]

With a 5 days until the 15 July signing deadline, Braxton Garrett (1-7 MIA) and Jason Groome (1-12 BOS) remain unsigned. Garrett has Boras as an advisor and a Vandy commit to leverage. Miami hasn't signed its 3rd round pick either, signed away its 2nd round pick (Wei-Yin Chen) and traded away its competitive balance pick so it is light on pool money. If Garrett does not sign, the Brewers will drop to pick 10.

Boston has roughly $4.2M of their draft pool left to sign Groome. He reportedly wanted a minimum of $4M to sign, but even then, there was some reports saying he wanted 'Top 4' slot money - which could be $5M or more. It also could simply be Groome being upset about Boston picking him - he supposedly had a deal in place with another team picking lower in the 1st round (likely SD), and was set on going there. Perhaps that was a sweetheart deal - $5M or something like that - and he feels he can wait another year.

 

I bet he signs - wringing every penny out of Boston that he can. $4M now or $5M next year (assuming nothing goes wrong, which is a lot to assume). I'm betting he takes the money now.

Right after I posted this an article from Jon Heyman came out saying the Padres had an agreement with Groome to sign for $5M.

 

http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/al/boston-red-sox/jason-groome-stare-offer-table/

[TheCrew07]

I really liked Groome the pitcher, but I've grown incredibly weary of players trying to cherry pick their destination, it's one of the reasons I'm not a Jose Fernandez fan... "I'll go to school if I'm not drafted by a FL team". Another example from the NFL would be John Elway who I never liked despite his immense talent. It's too bad that so many great talents are such douches.

 

I still would rather have Groome than Ray, but part of me is also glad that he's not around.

 

For the most part the Brewers have done a wonderful job bringing quality kids/young men into the organization of late. Our LaPorta types have been few and far between, even players like Lawrie who rubbed many here the wrong way on the social media side were very cordial to the fans in person. Granted I see most of them when they are first starting out in WI, but for the most part the players are good people, which makes it much easier to root for them.

[Austin Tatious]

Just curious - what was LaPorta's issue? Was he arrogant toward fans?

[TheCrew07]

Buck Rogers, the GM of the Huntsville Stars at the time, dropped an excellent blog post laying it all out there. I'll see if I can dig it up.

 

***edit***

 

I didn't find the original blog, but I found my post.

[reillymcshane]

I really liked Groome the pitcher, but I've grown incredibly weary of players trying to cherry pick their destination, it's one of the reasons I'm not a Jose Fernandez fan... "I'll go to school if I'm not drafted by a FL team". Another example from the NFL would be John Elway who I never liked despite his immense talent. It's too bad that so many great talents are such douches.

 

I still would rather have Groome than Ray, but part of me is also glad that he's not around.

As noted before, Groome has some character issues that really made him a risk for $5M. It's tough to pass up his kind of talent, but that's what many teams did.

[MrTPlush]

Who said he is trying to cherry pick his destination? The kid knows he has the Red Sox upside down hanging from a tree. He knows the Red Sox will crack and give him most if not all of their remaining bonus pool money. He is doing what any other sensible human being would do in his situation.

[Austin Tatious]

Buck Rogers, the GM of the Huntsville Stars at the time, dropped an excellent blog post laying it all out there. I'll see if I can dig it up.

 

***edit***

 

I didn't find the original blog, but I found my post.

 

Thanks for the information. I did not realize that about LaPorta.

[reillymcshane]

I heard Groome signing with Boston isn't a sure thing. He and his family are still upset that Boston picked him after they told them not to do so (because Groome had a $5M deal set up with Boston).

 

Still, hard to pass on $4M or so (assuming Boston goes that high).

[TheCrew07]

Who said he is trying to cherry pick his destination?

 

No one, I said Joe Fernandez and John Elway did, though there have been many others.

 

The kid knows he has the Red Sox upside down hanging from a tree. He knows the Red Sox will crack and give him most if not all of their remaining bonus pool money.

 

Generally I'm in favor of free market economy, but that model doesn't work in professional sports so I have no use for players or agents who try to circumvent the system to get more pay, or choose their draft destination, or whatever other scenario of skirting the rules one can think of. I don't care that he had a predraft deal in place with SD, the whole notion predraft deals is hogwash to start with. He was drafted where he was, his slot is what it is, and I could care less about the team just like I did with the Brady Aiken deal a couple of years ago, it's the principle that bothers me.

 

He is doing what any other sensible human being would do in his situation.

 

While you are welcome to your opinion that's far from the truth. I wouldn't do that if I was in his position because I know how the system works and I'm more interested in getting what's fair than the maximum, I'd even consider signing for a couple hundred thousand less for 2 reasons:

 

1) That extra money could potentially bring a significant contributor to team with me when we hit MLB.

 

2) Players that don't sign and go back into the draft are hurting themselves long term. Any draft bonus is peanuts compared to a player's first FA contract... if Groome is as good as he thinks he is and is at least a #3 he'll make at least an easy $12-14 million per year in FA, which blows away the extra 800K he's quibbling over now or even best case for him if he was the #1 overall next year (which won't happen) and gets $3 mil more. I have a pretty good idea why long term earning potential is glossed over for short term gratification, but the opportunity cost of not signing easily definable and quantifiable, especially if you get hurt before the next draft like Aiken and Hoffman.

[QuevedosTongue]

Of course, there is no incentive for Groome to sign before the deadline. He knows what the Red Sox' number is and he wants it higher. It's in his best interest to wait until the last minute.

 

Regarding getting paid what is 'fair'.....whatever the team will pay you is fair. Groome is working within the system to get the most money he can now. At the deadline, if the number is right, he'll sign. I'm not sure there is an argument that could persuade me that he should approach this in a different way.

 

Isn't he doing exactly what Chad McClanahan did with the Brewers about 2 weeks ago?

[MrTPlush]

Jason Groome can be mad all he wants, but passing up on $4mil would not make much sense. It just makes him one year older and he would need to be picked Top 6 or so next year to get that kind of money. Even higher to actually make it worth it. There is very little reason to pass up $4m on his part. Heck many teams would probably be pretty scared to draft him if he were to not sign this year. Take the $4mil and get going Groome.

[QuevedosTongue]

Jason Groome can be mad all he wants, but passing up on $4mil would not make much sense. It just makes him one year older and he would need to be picked Top 6 or so next year to get that kind of money. Even higher to actually make it worth it. There is very little reason to pass up $4m on his part. Heck many teams would probably be pretty scared to draft him if he were to not sign this year. Take the $4mil and get going Groome.

 

I think the recent history of players not signing and going back into the draft shows that he should sign. Granted my memory sucks, but has there been a high pick who skipped signing, then got substantially more the next year?

[yfinn6]

Jason Groome can be mad all he wants, but passing up on $4mil would not make much sense. It just makes him one year older and he would need to be picked Top 6 or so next year to get that kind of money. Even higher to actually make it worth it. There is very little reason to pass up $4m on his part. Heck many teams would probably be pretty scared to draft him if he were to not sign this year. Take the $4mil and get going Groome.

 

Less than 24 hours before this post, you said any sensible person would hold out for more money, now you say it does not make sense to not sign.

[MrTPlush]

Jason Groome can be mad all he wants, but passing up on $4mil would not make much sense. It just makes him one year older and he would need to be picked Top 6 or so next year to get that kind of money. Even higher to actually make it worth it. There is very little reason to pass up $4m on his part. Heck many teams would probably be pretty scared to draft him if he were to not sign this year. Take the $4mil and get going Groome.

 

Less than 24 hours before this post, you said any sensible person would hold out for more money, now you say it does not make sense to not sign.

 

Umm yup? That is correct? He needs to hold out for every last penny, but that didn't mean not to sign. Not sure why you took that as he shouldn't sign

[QuevedosTongue]

Saw a blog post saying Groome is in Boston for a physical, which would mean his signing is imminent. I can't wait to see how much he gets.

[paul253]

I know it's professional sports and all but think about how much $4 million actually is. Especially for someone who just graduated from high school. That's more than most of us will make in our entire lifetime. And he wants more. I get it. You can't really compare sports to real life but if someone offered me $4 million out of high school, to play baseball no less, I'd sign as fast as I could. Really puts professional athletes (and actors/actresses, musicians, etc) into perspective in how they live vs how we live.

[MrTPlush]

The thing is if you were worth $4mil would you settle for $3.5mil "as fast as you could"? It's really no different than when an average joe wants a raise. You want what you are worth.

 

Also fighting over say $250k sounds ridiculous, but can you imagine safely investing that today and letting it grow till you want to retire? That is HUGE. So in my opinion they aren't being greedy. They are doing what is best for them and their future.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Reports are out that he signed for $3.65 Million. Not all that he wanted, but over slot money and a slight bit more than what Boston recently had on the table ($3.5M). Good decision for the kid and for the Red Sox.

 

I think if you're a high school pitcher and you're drafted in the 1st round, you'd be foolish to pass up signing a contract and waiting another calendar year or multiple years should you decide on going to college. College will always be there for you after your career (if you even need it). Players in the bigs have a much easier time playing chicken with their longterm financials by going year to year with arbitration instead of signing an initial extension, because they're already established big league players with a track record. If a kid declines to sign a contract arguing over $200K and proceeds to blow out his arm, he won't ever be drafted as high as his original selection and odds are good his career will be over with before it ever started (and without several million in the bank).

[Austin Tatious]

With the losses starting to mount, and the likelihood of trading off talent, I'd say we have a realistic shot at a top 3 pick. There are a couple of nice catchers projected high. JJ Schwarz has been much ballyhooed forever. There are some adequate pitching prospects when you look at Bukauskas and Greene. Montgomery will likely be very interested in Kendall, the Vandy outfielder. Kendall hits the sweet spot of what Montgomery is comfortable drafting in the 1st.

[MrTPlush]

Jaren Kendall is also a Wisconsin native.

 

I also agree we will likely pick Top 5 at the least if we trade Lucroy, Torres, and at least one of Jeffress/Smith. Killing that bullpen will do more harm than one would expect.

 

Most high school guys will sign if drafted in the first two rounds. Usually that is enough money to not try and risk going to college. It's also notable they get free college even if they do sign if they want it. The only downside is the fact that it may no be to a sweet school where your scholarship was from. If you got a scholarship to a big time academic school like UCLA etc. you would likely lose your chance at an incredible education if you can't get in without baseball.