Article: Draft Update

[Jeremy Nygaard]

It's been almost two weeks since the MLB draft and pending a few final details, the Twins appear nearly set to put a bow on what appears to be a very promising draft class.From the moment the draft wrapped up and word of signings started to trickle in, you've been able to follow all the news right here at Twins Daily.

 

Today, the Twins are expected to officially announce the signing of three more players: Alex Kirilloff, the team's first-round pick, who is signing for slot; Brandon Lopez, who needs to pass his physical to finalize a $30k deal (which saves the Twins $126,600) and switch-hitting prep catcher Kidany Salva, who will sign for $70k pending contract approval.

 

6/24 Update: Austin Tribby, a big-bodied left-handed pitcher from Missouri who is out of college eligibility, is undergoing his physical and is expected to be official soon. Tribby is almost certainly looking at a $1,000 signing bonus.

 

That will leave only fifth-round pick pitcher Jordan Balazovic remaining. All I've heard is that there are not expected to be any hang-ups with him either, though he is likely to come in over slot. Using Benninghoff's terms, even if Balazovic got the same $600k, the Twins would still have over $62k left. (Though it is possible that Balazovic could eat up all that's remaining.)

 

But let's pretend that the Twins sign all of their Top 10 round picks and still have $75,000 left. They could offer any of their unsigned picks up to $175,000 without penalty. Who could get that money?

 

I'd really like to see the Twins pursue Matt Jones, Canadian prep pitcher, 28th round. And it sounds like there is a distinct possibility they reach a deal with the young lefty.

 

UPDATE: Matt Jones will undergo his physical on Sunday and sign after that. Let's revisit some of the guys that could take up the extra pool money.

 

Shamoy Christopher, JUCO catcher, 20th round: Christopher is one of those "pop-up" guys who not all the teams knew about going into the draft. The Twins liked him, though he hadn't given every indication he wanted to sign. They've been in contact with him throughout the last few weeks, but at this time it sounds as though his demand is more than the Twins are willing to spend.

 

Matt Byars, Michigan State catcher, 24th round: Do the Twins turn to another Wisconsin kid, who played JUCO ball in Illinois before hitting .284 in the Big Ten, adding another catcher to the system?

 

Greg Deichmann, LSU third baseman, 26th round: Deichmann was a draft-eligible sophomore who has only played significantly for one season and has two years remaining. He demonstrated power, hitting 12 home runs in the best conference in America, and only committed eight errors at third base. Deichmann would likely command more money than the Twins have.

 

Could they spread the money out and lock up a couple more players? It's always a possibility. Could there be another player or two they are keeping tabs on? Absolutely.

 

So while the class is almost complete, there still is plenty of intrigue.

 

Download attachment: 2016draft1.JPG Download attachment: 2016draft2.JPG

 

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[Dman]

Thanks for all the info Jeremy.

 

They really did a nice job getting the High School picks to sign.  I really like the upside for this draft class.  Whether anyone reaches there highest potential remains to be seen but I like that these young guys will have some time to develop in the minor leagues.

 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

Personally, I'd go after the high schoolers... higher ceilings in general.  Given the org's need at C, Shamoy wouldn't be a bad grab either.

[AZTwin]

What determines if a player signs for slot, above or below? Draft position obviously has some impact on salary but not necessarily. Blows my mind though that Lopez would only get $30k but anyone after round 10 could get $100k and benningoff got $600k. I mean how does Lopez not even get $100k?

[d-mac]

 

What determines if a player signs for slot, above or below? Draft position obviously has some impact on salary but not necessarily. Blows my mind though that Lopez would only get $30k but anyone after round 10 could get $100k and benningoff got $600k. I mean how does Lopez not even get $100k?

 

How anybody signs for less than $100k blows my mind.

[Mike Sixel]

Jeremy, thanks, your coverage has been awesome.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

 

What determines if a player signs for slot, above or below? Draft position obviously has some impact on salary but not necessarily. Blows my mind though that Lopez would only get $30k but anyone after round 10 could get $100k and benningoff got $600k. I mean how does Lopez not even get $100k?

 

Seniors typically don't get much. In fact, the seniors the Twins sign typically get only $1,000. The Twins certainly had a pre-draft agreement with Lopez that he'd agree to sign for $30K. Some borderline draftable players will agree to be taken in the Top 10 rounds knowing they will get $5k or so. Little leverage = little bonus.

 

High school guys say have a lot more leverage. 

[d-mac]

 

Seniors typically don't get much. In fact, the seniors the Twins sign typically get only $1,000. The Twins certainly had a pre-draft agreement with Lopez that he'd agree to sign for $30K. Some borderline draftable players will agree to be taken in the Top 10 rounds knowing they will get $5k or so. Little leverage = little bonus.

 

High school guys say have a lot more leverage. 

 

I definitely would not sign for $1K. There is no penalty for the team to go to $100k, so I'd hold out for more and if the team doesn't budge I'd take my college degree and get a job that pays much more.  

[Seth Stohs]

 

I definitely would not sign for $1K. There is no penalty for the team to go to $100k, so I'd hold out for more and if the team doesn't budge I'd take my college degree and get a job that pays much more.  

 

The team only have to make an offer. If the player chooses not to sign, then oh well. They can start a career elsewhere, but if they want to play pro ball, they take it. 

[maxisagod]

 

The team only have to make an offer. If the player chooses not to sign, then oh well. They can start a career elsewhere, but if they want to play pro ball, they take it. 

 

I'd be more sympathetic to that argument if they paid players at least the minimum wage once they get there. But the combination, just shows without representation in the negotiations players get treated horribly. It  make minimum wage laws seem absolutely necessary.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'd be more sympathetic to that argument if they paid players at least the minimum wage once they get there. But the combination, just shows without representation in the negotiations players get treated horribly. It  make minimum wage laws seem absolutely necessary.

 

I'm right up there with people saying the minor leaguers need to make more money, but I was just explaining the current situation. Seniors have pretty much no leverage.

[Monkeypaws]

If I was about to graduate from college, and someone said, "oh, here's 30K and a job playing baseball," I wouldn't feel ill-used.

[bird]

Joe Mauer, pushing the peas around on his plate tonight: "You know, honey, I just hate the thought of these poor minor leaguers working for peanuts. Say, any mail from the player's union or my agent?"

[h2oface]

Amazing how cheap a team (not just the Twins) can be. College Seniors may as well be free agents and go get the job on a team of their choice.

[nicksaviking]

If I was about to graduate from college, and someone said, "oh, here's 30K and a job playing baseball," I wouldn't feel ill-used.

So wold a lot of people, but it's more like here's 30K and for the next 5 years we will only pay you $4/hr and you have to pay most of your own expenses.

 

So hope you don't plan on having kids anytime soon.

[sorney]

 

So wold a lot of people, but it's more like here's 30K and for the next 5 years we will only pay you $4/hr and you have to pay most of your own expenses.

So hope you don't plan on having kids anytime soon.

 

If you grew you grew up playing baseball your entire life (like most of the college seniors), and someone actually wants to give you money, no matter how little, to go play ball instead of enter the real world and work at a desk job, I wouldn't blame any of them for taking the $1K....the real world will still be there when they are cut in a couple years.  

 

[Rosterman]

 

So wold a lot of people, but it's more like here's 30K and for the next 5 years we will only pay you $4/hr and you have to pay most of your own expenses.

So hope you don't plan on having kids anytime soon.

C'mon people, get over it! It is a choice that has to be made. You pay your dues. Actually, you work a normal workday, but your shift is all over the place (sadly) and you go on the road - so you can't have a second job if you want. You can have roommates or live in people's home. You get to go to the ballpark pretty much whenever to workout, play, rest, just hang out instead of at home. If you do good, you get paid more, period. You have one to two years to see if you can hack it or not. No different than starting on the lower rungs at a company, being an intern (really paying your way), working as an apprentice, whatever. Yes, you may have to find a winter job. (Remember the days when many a major league baseball player actually had to work during the offseason, and many had to have a job after they retired). Pump money into food, or housing (similar to the dorm the Twins have at Ft. Myers) if you must. But you are there to play ball 24/7 as you strive towards a dream. If you get a bonus, make it last, make it work. I would've killed for any small amount of thousands when I graduated from high school or college to hold me over to reporting day for a new job in something I like!

 

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Amazing how cheap a team (not just the Twins) can be. College Seniors may as well be free agents and go get the job on a team of their choice.

 

That could happen! But they're not getting $30k if they do that. That's why they agree to take $30k.

[jsteve96]

 

How anybody signs for less than $100k blows my mind.

when you're a senior you dont have too many options...

[The Wise One]

With the slotting system the high round hs students still have little leverage. The decision comes down to betting how much you could rise in college versus how much you could drop.

[d-mac]

 

when you're a senior you dont have too many options...

 

They do, it's called a college degree. 

[maxisagod]

 

They do, it's called a college degree. 

 

That's part of the problem. You do the 'right' thing and go to college to get an education and play ball, you don't leave early, maybe your on scholarship, maybe not a full ride. But any debt you walk out you have no way of paying off once you sign that 1 grand deal. Then you don't leave early and stay all 4 years and that "hurts you". Then you need to get a credit card just to survive. More debt. Hoping you don't get hurt with an injury that affects you for the rest of your life.  But it your choice after all they can always get someone from Latin America to do it for just as cheap (just hope those guys don't get an "on the job" Injury, they can get fired and lose their Visa).  

 

If this was the meat packing industry or any other industry we'd be disgusted with how people are treated for doing the right thing. But it's baseball, the game we love. We look the other way. But saying people have a choice to give them less then they need to live or they can walk away for basicly life, show's an abuse in a system, and that feels agenst the values we say we value. 

 

And on a diffrent note, Thanks to Jermey fo all he does. the time and info he puts in helps make this site. And congrats to everyone who got drafted. 

[clutterheart]

Is Balazovic just waiting until the Twins have signed everyone they are going to sign and then he is going to try and get all of their remaining money?

 

If so, that is a smart strategy - assuming that he wouldn't mind going to college if the Twins can't hit his number.  

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah sorry, there's no reason MLB cannot pay them minimum wage... and they aren't getting that right now.  This would be very easily fixable if MLB gave them housing and food (which I'd add is probably in MLB's best interest too)... but then again, we've been over this 100 million times now.  I don't think anyone's opinion is going to change here.

[old nurse]

 

That's part of the problem. You do the 'right' thing and go to college to get an education and play ball, you don't leave early, maybe your on scholarship, maybe not a full ride. But any debt you walk out you have no way of paying off once you sign that 1 grand deal. Then you don't leave early and stay all 4 years and that "hurts you". Then you need to get a credit card just to survive. More debt. Hoping you don't get hurt with an injury that affects you for the rest of your life.  But it your choice after all they can always get someone from Latin America to do it for just as cheap (just hope those guys don't get an "on the job" Injury, they can get fired and lose their Visa).  

 

If this was the meat packing industry or any other industry we'd be disgusted with how people are treated for doing the right thing. But it's baseball, the game we love. We look the other way. But saying people have a choice to give them less then they need to live or they can walk away for basicly life, show's an abuse in a system, and that feels agenst the values we say we value. 

 

And on a diffrent note, Thanks to Jermey fo all he does. the time and info he puts in helps make this site. And congrats to everyone who got drafted. 

Baseball is like the meatpacking industry. Nobody is outraged at the hiring practices of the meatpacking industry. Highest injury rate, lots of illegals busted. Not many care.

[AZTwin]

I really think we got a sleeper with the HS C - Kidany Salva.  Glad we got him on board, didn't think we would.

[shs_59]

Hopefull to see the Balazovic deal get done.

 

i'm ok with anything from 500K to 750 K for him to get it done.

 

obviously we might not be able to go quite that high, which would be a shame.

 

I could see his agent framing him as a 2nd round value, so they could want upwards of 900K....if thats the case, nothing will get finalized there unfortunately.

[ashbury]

I'm just worried about how to fit all 40 of these future stars onto the 25-man roster when they all develop.

 

June really is the best month of the year, at least for a non-contending team.

[mnrecruiterguy]

Any new news on the Balazovic kid? Do we anticipate to sign anyone else from this draft class? Thanks for all the update, Jeremy!

[Dman]

I take it we are not signing Balazovic?  Isn't the signing period almost over?