for voting Smoak into our top 10 without him ever playing if he doesn’t sign…

As for the Nats – they did pay way above slot, if I’m remembering correctly, for several of their picks. I doubt the Crow holdout is them just wanting to be cheap, like Adam said. Rather, I imagine Crow wants top 3 money or else he’ll try to pull a Hochevar.

What I don’t understand is why he wouldn’t just go back to school?

evidently they were not told until fairly recently (after the draft, after talking w/ their picks) that they could not go over slot

sucks for them

crow can play more/better coaching/boras doesnt want him to go back to college?

Both Buster Posey and Brain Matusz have reportedly agreed to deals this morning. That should help clarify the value. Posey reportedly got a ML deal, not sure about the pitcher.

but it has come to light that Cleveland will not receive a player in return for Paul Byrd. Essentially, Boston won the waiver claim because they were the only team willing to take on all of the 2+ million still owed to Byrd.

If the Rangers brass really felt that they were still in this race as of last week, wouldn’t Byrd have been a solid option? I really think some of these young pitchers are experiencing more harm than good getting slapped around in the bigs. Byrd is certainly not an elixer, but he basically averages a quality start, which is pretty much all this offense needs.

I believe I have this correct. A ML contract means a player must be on the ML roster in 3 years or they become a FA due to being out of options. Otherwise, a minor league player needs to be a a ML roster after 6 years or they become a ninor league FA.

i really think he’ll be signed, I highly doubt jd is going to let him go away over some money or an ML contract. It’s pure luck that the guy fell to the rangers pick, they need to thank their lucky stars and sign him.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

…is supposed more flush with pitching, and davis is apparently the real deal at first base, is it such a bad thing to hold hard to negotiate a non-ML contract… if he goes back we get pick 11b next year, plus what looks to be a pick in the 13-15 range… plus two more picks if we have a type A FA leave[bradley]… we could continue to stock our great farm systems and have surplus to trade for good YOUNG proven talent… i’m starting to like this new no-sign reward thing….

Didn’t see this posted yet…from today’s chat:

Nick, Texas: Will the Rangers get Smoak signed? Think about a Hamilton, Smoak, Davis 3-4-5 in the future!

Keith Law: (1:15 PM ET ) Yes, I think he and Robbie Ross will sign tomorrow.

The real question is what about the late round bonus babies? Can we land a Armstrong, Matinez, etc?

COLUMBIA — University of South Carolina baseball coach Ray Tanner said Thursday afternoon that first baseman Justin Smoak and third baseman James Darnell haven’t signed major league contracts — yet.
.
But Tanner expects both to sign by Friday’s midnight deadline, adding Smoak’s might “go down to the wire” while Darnell could sign as early as sometime Thursday.
.
“Neither one of them have done their deal yet,” Tanner said. “I think it’s pretty close obviously because tomorrow’s the deadline. I expect everything to get done, but nothing’s done yet.”
.
Neither Smoak nor Darnell could be reached for comment.
.
Smoak was the 11th player picked in the first round of the major league draft, going to the Texas Rangers. Darnell was a second-round pick of the San Diego Padres.

What happens if a college senior doesn’t sign? Does he become a FA?

Anyone heard anything there?