2009 Cubs Picks Thread

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Question:

 

Did we take any intriguing, high upside power pitchers that other teams would be jealous of?

 

I'm not saying that's how I like to judge a draft, but it'd be nice to hear.

 

Raley sounds interesting, but he also sounds like young Ted Lilly. Lilly's a very good pitcher, but remember when we pumped out 3 of the best arms in baseball at one point? I'd like that again. Preferably without the parts about them breaking down.

[weis21]

What is the normal timetable as far as signing draft picks? LeMahieu, Kirk, and Raley are all unsigned and they're probably the three picks I'm most excited about (judging by their scouting reports). Is it time to worry that none of them will sign? Or is this long of a delay normal?

 

Thanks.

[UK1679666180]

What is the normal timetable as far as signing draft picks? LeMahieu, Kirk, and Raley are all unsigned and they're probably the three picks I'm most excited about (judging by their scouting reports). Is it time to worry that none of them will sign? Or is this long of a delay normal?

 

Thanks.

 

The Cubs wouldn't draft LeMahieu and Kirk that high without knowing their demands and knowing they would meet them. With Kirk, they're evaluating over the Summer as he plays travel ball and with LeMahieu (Is he playing in the cape?) likewise.

 

With Raley.... They know what he wants, they know as a draft eligible Soph. he does have more leverage than many draft eligible college players but are likely evaluating him more and going thru the song and dance thru the Summer.

 

Problems arise when advisors suddenly increase demands once drafted.

[Guest]

they're evaluating over the Summer as he plays travel ball and with LeMahieu (Is he playing in the cape?) likewise.

 

I don't believe so.

[craig]

It sure would be nice to see them sign some more of the intersting guys. Maybe they've already superslotted some real talents; who knows how good Davis or Mincone or Fizgerald or McNutt were perceived to be or how much they commanded. But given that almost all of the known signings thus far have been slot if that, and that we don't even have a real 1st round million-dollar guy, I've really kind of assumed from even before the draft that we'd be taking some superslots and signing them.

 

Taylor, Walker, Burruel, and Esquivel, those are some kids I really hoped we knew what it would take and planned to give enough to get them signed, and might add some real talent to what could end up a really weak draft for us.

 

Hopefully that will still happen, I'd sure love to log in some day and read that we've signed.

[UK1679666180]

It sure would be nice to see them sign some more of the intersting guys. Maybe they've already superslotted some real talents; who knows how good Davis or Mincone or Fizgerald or McNutt were perceived to be or how much they commanded. But given that almost all of the known signings thus far have been slot if that, and that we don't even have a real 1st round million-dollar guy, I've really kind of assumed from even before the draft that we'd be taking some superslots and signing them.

 

Taylor, Walker, Burruel, and Esquivel, those are some kids I really hoped we knew what it would take and planned to give enough to get them signed, and might add some real talent to what could end up a really weak draft for us.

 

Hopefully that will still happen, I'd sure love to log in some day and read that we've signed.

 

At this point of the draft, I would assume the Cubs maybe have 2-5 slots open for draft picks remaining, obviously Raley will have a spot and we'll see who gets the remaining spots and who even gets offered anything at all. Just b/c they're drafted doesn't mean they'll even get an offer, many of the HS kids drafted late won't get an offer and was selected for the remote chance they would sign below what they're worth b/c of not qualifying academically or no desire to go to school. Other HS kids will get drafted late based on evaluating over the rest of the Summer.

[craig]

At this point of the draft, I would assume the Cubs maybe have 2-5 slots open for draft picks remaining, obviously Raley will have a spot and we'll see who gets the remaining spots and who even gets offered anything at all. Just b/c they're drafted doesn't mean they'll even get an offer, many of the HS kids drafted late won't get an offer and was selected for the remote chance they would sign below what they're worth b/c of not qualifying academically or no desire to go to school. Other HS kids will get drafted late based on evaluating over the rest of the Summer.

 

Not sure I follow. I think you're saying now is dead time, and the signings will probably come at the deadline. I've got no problem with using the deadline, both to get some more evaluation in for guys who do play and to use the deadline as some negotiation leverage. Vitters, we took to the deadline. Before the August deadline, we routinely took guys up until the school deadline, and Brownlie up till the spring training deadline. Watkins and Mitchell didn't sign real early or play to any significant degree last year.

 

So if we sign Taylor, Walker, Burruel, and Esquivel at the August deadline, plus Raley, in addition to the obvious Kirk and Lemahieu, that's fine. But if we all we sign is our obvious 2nd and 3rd rounders, and maybe either Raley or somebody else, and if Raley is the only superslot in the draft, I will be awfully disappointed.

 

I think that would put us at least a couple of million behind what's been spent in each of the previous three drafts, and would represent one of the most passive, unaggressive Cub drafts that I can remember. Last year we paid both Cashner and Flaherty, so that alone put us well more than a million beyond what Jackson cost. And we superslotted Cerda by a lot, watkins by a ton, Mitchell, and perhaps to lesser degree Jericho Jones, Joe Coleman, and Dan McDaniel, and perhaps/probably some others. Two years ago we not only signed big-ticket Vitters but also Donaldson, so those alone would put the spending several million ahead of what Jackson/Lemahieu will cost. That was a pretty pricey top, but they still had enough for some strong superslots for Acosta and Russell. Three years ago they had first rounder colvin, who although he got modest slot still cost a lot more than jackson, plus spent a zillion on Samardzija, and agressivelysuperslotted Anderson, Huseby humungous, and Rundle big-time. If we just sign Raley and a couple more slot picks, and maybe superslot Lemahieu a little bit, this will seem by comparison like a really passive draft.

 

I assume that when you draft guys in the top 20, you have intentions to at least try to sign them. That's always been true in the past. And given how little money we have to spend because we don't have supplemental or really a real 1st round pick, I assume they do intend to at least try to sign Walker and Burruel, and it would seem that we should have some cash available to try to do so.

 

I sure hope so, at any rate.

[UK1679666180]

I agree with DJ, Kirk, and Raley that they'll do everything it takes to sign them, but with kids that are later round picks that are posturing for more money that they're going to run into a situation where if the Cubs run out of open roster spots (which they will as most teams only have a handful of kids they really want to sign right now) and they know who they want to sign and who they don't. There might be one or two that they overslot to get but it's looks less likely this year.

 

At this point, it's not about money allocated towards the draft as that was likely established before everything began compared how many spots are there at Fitch and maybe Boise (for the college kids).

 

I would probably put the odds of signing DJ and Kirk at nearly 90%, Raley at 75%, with likely only one of the 3 HS kids.

[craig]

.... but with kids that are later round picks that are posturing for more money that they're going to run into a situation where if the Cubs run out of open roster spots (which they will as most teams only have a handful of kids they really want to sign right now) and they know who they want to sign and who they don't. There might be one or two that they overslot to get but it's looks less likely this year.

 

At this point, it's not about money allocated towards the draft as that was likely established before everything began compared how many spots are there at Fitch and maybe Boise (for the college kids)....

 

You may be right, but I sure hope not. I don't think it's about spots at Fitch. I don't think you don't try to sign Sergio Burruel because he's blocked at Fitch by Juan Medina (23, hitting .172), Jose Guevera (21, batting 0.000), and because you couldn't move Richard Jones up to Boise because he's blocked by Alvaro Sosa (23, hitting .179).

 

Eric Erickson, he's rehabbing anyway, he won't take anybody's innings this summer. You can get another hotel room, or tell him to stay home till fall instrux if you can't find Fitch space..

 

Keenyn Walker, I'll take him and if it gets too crowded I'll release one of Kevin Soto (20, no power, hitting .071 for Boise), Jose valdez (almost 22, .293 slugger for Boise) Francisco Guzman (21, slugging .229 for Mesa), Sean Hoorelbeke, Chris Weimer (almost 23, hitting .238 at Mesa) or Glenn cook (24, hitting .154 for Mesa). We're crawling with old roster fill outfield scrubs that won't get in the way of a talented major-league prospect.

 

Gerardo Esquivel, one of Josh Whitlock, Mike Perconte, Joe Simokaitis or Daley Cox shouldn't get in his way. The least promising of our ten Latin pitchers at Fitch can get released or returned to DSL. No problem.

 

So I think it's not about Fitch, it's about money.

 

.... but with kids that are later round picks that are posturing for more money that they're going to run into a situation where if the Cubs run out of open roster spots (which they will as most teams only have a handful of kids they really want to sign right now) and they know who they want to sign and who they don't. There might be one or two that they overslot to get but it's looks less likely this year...

 

Later round picks like Whaley, sure. If anybody thought he was going to sign at a price they thought he was worth, he'd have been gone long before round 40. But I don't think that applies to front-half picks like Walker, Burruel, and Esquivel. If the area scout is any good he does his research and gets some feedback on how much they might settle for. If it's beyond reach, you don't take him, and instead take somebody who might be signable at the budget you've got.

 

In the three previous Wilken drafts, through the first 24 rounds he's not had more than one guy per draft that he didn't sign (Wilson last year; Kyle Day two years ago; and draft-and-follow Jose Hernandez three drafts ago.) So I think they use their first 20-25 picks on guys who they try to sign and whose money demands don't make them unsignable.

 

I am hoping/assuming the same applies this year. There are still 8 guys unsigned from the top 24; I seriously hope they budgeted to get at least five or six of them.

 

I'm just an internet poster, so I don't have any inside info, and perhaps some of my perceptions are ill-informed. You have scouting insights, and perhaps you have additional inside info. I've assumed you don't take a kid in the top 24 rounds unless you have an informed and researched reason to think there is a reasonable likelihood that you'll be willing to spend what they demand. That's been the case in the years before; I don't know why it shouldn't remain mostly true now.

 

I understand that things can change. A kid can change his mind and raise his price. A kid you though might come down a bit may not budge at all. A kid you thought might earn more with a good summer might disappoint. But I don't think they use many picks that early on guys who aren't perceived to be within reach and within their spending parameters.

 

.... At this point, it's not about money allocated towards the draft as that was likely established before everything began .....

 

I agree that the amount of cash allocated towards the draft should have been established before everything began. But if that allocation is exhausted by Kirk/Lem/Raley and no other superslots, I'm both very surprised and very disappointed. I'm very surprised that the allocation was so small. Because that allocation would then look to be at barely 50%, if that, of what the draft allocation has been in recent years. We normally spend on at least several superslots and normally spend a chunk on high picks (top-20 picks and supplementals). If we're cutting back big-time on top and seriously retracting superslots as well, that's very disappointing. To say the least.

 

It may be happening. But I'm not sure it's probable, or that we should assume that's what's happening based on what's happened thus far.

 

I'm still hoping that they did do due research on the top unsigned 8 picks; that they did allocate money to enable some substantial superslot; and that they knew all this when they picked these kids, knowing they'd cost superslot but that we can afford some. And that when the deadline arrives that they'll end up signing 5 or 6 or more of the remaining unsigned guys, several of them at superslot rate.

 

We'll see.

Edited July 10, 2009 by craig

[Guest]

Per BA:

 

Brett Jackson signed at the estimated 2009 slot of $972,000.

The estimated slot for 79 (LeMahieu) is $457,200.

The estimated slot for 109 (Kirk) is $284,400.

Chris Rusin signed for less than the estiamted slot of $186,300. Rusin signed for $140,000.

Wes Darvill signed at slot for $142,200.

[Guest]

WWL.com[/url]"]The Cubs picked LeMahieu in the 2nd round and Schimpf went to the Blue Jays in the 5th. Both will most likely sign in the next couple of days.

[Guest]

Cubs 17th rounder:

 

Dail did sign a contract with the Cubs, but it was voided on July 9, making him a free agent.

 

- BA

[Wabasha31]

Cubs 17th rounder:

 

Dail did sign a contract with the Cubs, but it was voided on July 9, making him a free agent.

 

- BA

 

 

Shortly before that was posted, I saw that Dail's name was no longer bolded in BA's draft database. I don't know if it means anything, but the same is now true for 23rd rounder Jeff Pruitt. His name is no longer in bold, either.

[Outshined_One]

More on LeMahieu. Sounds like him signing is a matter of time.

 

And with the August 15 signing deadline approaching fast, DJ LeMahieu and Ryan Schimpf are close to time to choose whether to stay or leave LSU’s program.

 

Designated hitter Blake Dean decided Friday to hang around for his senior season after being drafted to the Minnesota Twins in the 10th round.

 

But Mainieri said both LeMahieu, a second-round pick to the Chicago Cubs, and Schimpf, a third-round pick to the Toronto Blue Jays, should be signing with their respective clubs within the next month.

 

“I think something is going to happen here pretty soon with both of them,” Mainieri said. “From my understandings about the negotiations with their teams, they are pretty close. I wouldn’t say it’s imminent, but I would say that sometime within the next month, you will see something happen with both of them.”

[Guest]

Cubs 17th rounder:

 

Dail did sign a contract with the Cubs, but it was voided on July 9, making him a free agent.

 

- BA

 

 

Shortly before that was posted, I saw that Dail's name was no longer bolded in BA's draft database. I don't know if it means anything, but the same is now true for 23rd rounder Jeff Pruitt. His name is no longer in bold, either.

 

In the premium database, under Pruitt's name, it says "Dail did sign a contract with the Cubs, but it was voided on July 10, making him a free agent." It's a different date than Dail's voiding, so I'm guessing the BA just made a typo with the name here.

 

After the Cerda incident last year, it would have been nice for the Cubs to get their act in gear. Between the Bears, Blackhawks and Cubs, apparently competence in contracts is a near impossibility for management in Chicago.

[TruffleShuffle]

Cubs 17th rounder:

 

Dail did sign a contract with the Cubs, but it was voided on July 9, making him a free agent.

 

- BA

 

 

Shortly before that was posted, I saw that Dail's name was no longer bolded in BA's draft database. I don't know if it means anything, but the same is now true for 23rd rounder Jeff Pruitt. His name is no longer in bold, either.

 

In the premium database, under Pruitt's name, it says "Dail did sign a contract with the Cubs, but it was voided on July 10, making him a free agent." It's a different date than Dail's voiding, so I'm guessing the BA just made a typo with the name here.

 

After the Cerda incident last year, it would have been nice for the Cubs to get their act in gear. Between the Bears, Blackhawks and Cubs, apparently competence in contracts is a near impossibility for management in Chicago.

 

do we know that's why his contract was voided? it could have been because of a failed physical or something.

[Outshined_One]

Considering we haven't heard anything about him lately, some quick news on 3rd Rounder Austin Kirk:

 

Owasso's Austin Kirk, picked in the third round by the Chicago Cubs, and Red Oak's Lane Adams, picked by Kansas City in the 13th round, are also expected to sign.

 

But both also have hit snags.

 

Not that these players don't have backup plans if they can't come to terms. James has signed with Oklahoma State. Kirk has signed with Oklahoma. Adams is a Missouri State basketball signee, and Bears coach Cuonzo Martin has said he'll leave a spot open for Adams until the fall of next year in case he changes his mind.

[Outshined_One]

Some good news on the Austin Kirk front: Link

 

Kirk is more optimistic about getting a deal done soon.

 

He’ll meet with the Cubs today in hopes of working out a deal.

 

"It definitely slowed everything down,” Kirk said. "But I’m very confident. The Cubs are actually getting real close to the number that we want.”

[Outshined_One]

44th Rounder Frank DeJiulio turned down the Cubs' offer - Link

 

DeJiulio, a 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher, said his decision to reject the Cubs’ offer was based on his belief that his stock will rise with at least one more year of college ball.

 

“They offered me good money,” DeJiulio said, “but I’m pretty sure by next year I’ll be able to get more.”

 

DeJiulio was drafted more on his potential and body type than on his recent performance. He battled mononucleosis during his freshman year at Daytona State, spent two full months unable to perform any baseball activity at all, and saw his weight drop significantly. He recovered in time to play in the spring and compiled a 6-4 record and 5.27 ERA.

 

“I never felt good throughout the season,” DeJiulio said. “It was a constant struggle, but I got through it and had an OK year. I’m proud of that.”

 

The experience left DeJiulio wanting more at the collegiate level. He’s been spending the offseason in the gym and put on 20 pounds of good weight.

 

“I just wanted to make sure I can get bigger and stronger for next year and have a more dominating year,” he said. “I want to be 100-percent ready to perform going into it so the next time I have the opportunity (to turn professional) I can climb that ladder.”

 

DeJiulio has also been speaking with major colleges as a potential option beyond junior college. He has a visit planned to the University of Florida and has also been in contact with South Carolina and Florida Atlantic.

[Wrigley Rat]

D.J. LeMahieu signed (Bob Brenly & Len Kasper said it on TV). Will report to Mesa.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

D.J. LeMahieu signed (Bob Brenly & Len Kasper said it on TV). Will report to Mesa.

 

You'd think they would send him to Tennessee since he's been playing all year against AA level competition.

[craig]

Thanks for the good news, Wrigley. Hopefully they'll get Kirk finished soon, too, and then see if they can get some other guys done too before the deadline.

[Post Count Padder]

Glad DJ signed. I'm excited to see how he'll do.

[Guest]

More on Dail and Pruitt via Arizona Phil:

 

The Cub Reporter[/url]"]The Cubs have signed 25 of the 50 players they selected in the June Draft, but two of the players they signed (17th round pick RHP B. J. Dail and 23rd round pick OF Jeffrey Pruitt) had their contracts voided last week and are now free-agents. (Even though their contracts were voided, Dail and Pruitt have probably lost their remaining college eligibility)

 

The exact reason for the contracts being voided has not been disclosed, but it could be because a player tested positive for a banned substance, or a pre-existing medical condition was discovered, or because the club failed to submit a contract to the MLB office in a timely manner, or failed to add a player to a minor league reserve list within 15 days after signing the player. Since the Cubs got fined a reported $500K for screwing up contracts last year, I'll put my money on a club error as the reason Dail and Pruitt have been declared free-agents.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Short article on the LeMahieu signing.

 

Link

 

The Cubs announced Saturday that LeMahieu, the 79th overall pick of the draft, has signed his contract and was assigned to their Rookie League team in Mesa, Ariz. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 

When he’s ready, LeMahieu, who celebrated his 21st birthday on July 13, will be sent to the Cubs’ Class A team in Boise, Idaho.