2014 Draft Slots and Signings

[nicksaviking]

I'm not really sure why its disappointing that they left some money on the table... maybe the statement is just incomplete. They could have easily offered the rest of their bonus pool to one of the players they did sign and then they wouldn't have any of that pool money left. Signing 18 of their top 20 picks (including the first 17) seems pretty decent.

 

It's not so much whether they did or did not offer the 200K to one of the HS kids drafted very low, it's that they drafted a bunch of college relievers early instead of getting another high upside HS kid in the top 10.

 

Out of 40 selections it looks like the Twins drafted and signed only 4 HS players? That seems like a pretty poor stratification from the talent pool, when they had the means to do better.

[Pitz]

Yeah, I can understand being disappointed in the strategy or some of the picks - that's why I suggested the statement may have been incomplete. I was getting a little frustrated with all the RPs as well and would have liked to have seen them take a shot on a tough sign. But maybe the Twins talked with some of those tough signs and didn't feel good about what it would take to get them out of their commitments.

 

Playing the system with tough signs is not without its risks.

[nicksaviking]

Yeah, I can understand being disappointed in the strategy or some of the picks - that's why I suggested the statement may have been incomplete. I was getting a little frustrated with all the RPs as well and would have liked to have seen them take a shot on a tough sign. But maybe the Twins talked with some of those tough signs and didn't feel good about what it would take to get them out of their commitments.

 

Playing the system with tough signs is not without its risks.

 

This club isn't going to win if it doesn't start taking risks. 

 

I'd think if the Twins couldn't find dozens of HS kids worth an early round pick who would sign if the team offered the extra 200K, then the club wasn't doing it's research.

[chamoman]

Twins just signed undrafted 24-yo flamethrower Brandon Poulson from the Healdsburg Prune Packers of the collegiate Sacramento Rural League for $250,000. It is an awfully unique story -100 mph arm working for his father's excavation business gets tapped to sign a minor league deal with the Twins- and it seems that it was only possible due to the Twins' remaining draft money:

 

From the Strib:

"The San Francisco Giants wanted to sign Poulson, who also drew interest the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies. Those teams didn't have enough money remaining in their draft pool to match Minnesota."

 

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/269141081.html

 

If this is correct (and I may be mistaken) then all of the handwringing and gnashing of teeth about left over draft money may be for naught. In fact, the extra leverage this money gave the Twins compared to the hometown Giants and the other big league clubs actually makes this a market savvy move.  In fact, think it is possible that the Twins just found a (weird and rare) market inefficiency AND JUST PLAYED MONEYBALL!

[drjim]

Good for them, I was certainly critical of leaving money on the table, but I certainly can't argue using it on a flyer like this guy.

 

A little on the older side, but an intriguing prospect.

[twinsfan34]

This is ruining our pitch to contact philosophy.

 

Zumaya...Burdi...Cederoth...now this guy???

 

What next?

[twinsfan34]

http://mlb.mlb.com/n...8&vkey=news_mlb

 

The guy is 6'6" 240 lbs

 

He boasts a 40-inch vertical and a 6.6-second time in the 60-yard dash, according to Strankman.

 

Wonder if he could be a starter?

[Monkeypaws]

The Rookie! It is wonderful to think there are talents out there that fell WAAAAY under the radar. It makes sense given his past.

 

I always wonder how good the USA would be at football, i.e. "soccer," if our best athletes chose to devote their energies to it. Or any sport for that master - imagine a Wild defense full of middle linebackers.

 

Unfortunately, american football is where a lot of our primo athletes end up.