2009 Cubs Picks Thread

[Guest]

Brooks IS here

 

 

:clapping:

I was worried that would be too obscure on its own. :D

[Outshined_One]

I'm still underwhelmed with the draft on the whole, but signing another big HS name or two would definitely help. I'd probably give it a C right now and will probably end up giving it a C+ overall once the last few signings are announced, unless they do something unexpected like sign Walker, Esquivel, Sheppard, and Whaley.

[Guest]

Raley got second round money:

 

AggieBaseball.net[/url]"]Brooks Raley Signs with Cubs

 

It appears that LHP Brooks Raley has signed a professional contract with the Chicago Cubs. It looks like he will receive the largest bonus of any player in the sixth round and maybe 3X as much as anyone in the round has currently received. Solid second round money in a year when the current highest paid bonus is just 20% above slot recommendations is a good business decision for Raley. When he arrived on campus and wowed the coaches during the fall of his freshman year, they prepared for him to leave after just two seasons.

[Guest]

Raley got a $750,000 bonus which is slot for the 46th pick in this year's draft; that is, he got supplemental first round money. He received the second highest bonus doled out by the Cubs (thus far).

[craig]

Raley got a $750,000 bonus which is slot for the 46th pick in this year's draft; that is, he got supplemental first round money. He received the second highest bonus doled out by the Cubs (thus far).

 

Wow, so that's some real superslot. When is the deadline, anyway? 9th? 15th? I wonder if any of the others have signed and haven't hit the news yet?

 

But clearly that's a major superslot. I hope he earns it. Glad to have him aboard.

[Guest]

Raley got a $750,000 bonus which is slot for the 46th pick in this year's draft; that is, he got supplemental first round money. He received the second highest bonus doled out by the Cubs (thus far).

 

Wow, so that's some real superslot. When is the deadline, anyway? 9th? 15th? I wonder if any of the others have signed and haven't hit the news yet?

 

But clearly that's a major superslot. I hope he earns it. Glad to have him aboard.

 

17th.

[Guest]

Baseball America[/url]"]Cubs Sign Raley For $750,000

 

Posted Aug. 4, 2009 6:15 pm by Jim Callis

 

In the biggest above-slot signing to date, the Cubs signed Texas A&M lefthander Brooks Raley for $750,000. A sixth-rounder, Raley received $600,000 above the maximum the commissioner’s office recommended for all picks after the fifth round this year.

 

Raley was the best two-way player in college baseball in the first half of the season and projected as a possible supplemental first-round choice before dropping off down the stretch. The consensus among scouts is that he has a brighter future on the mound, where he commands an 87-90 mph sinker, a slider and a changeup. He also throws a four-seam fastball that peaks at 93 mph and a curveball. Raley is a quality athlete and competitor, though scouts wonder about his lack of an out pitch and how well he’ll hold up at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds. He was a draft-eligible sophomore, giving him extra leverage.

[Guest]

BA is now listing 11th rounder LHP John Mincone's bonus as an over-slot $100,000.

[Outshined_One]

Interesting exception to the signing deadline. Link

 

Basically, if a guy is drafted his junior year, doesn't sign, plays Indy ball, and re-enters the draft, he can be signed after August 17th. This year, this rule applies most notably to Aaron Crow and Tanner Scheppers.

[Guest]

Arizona Phil[/url]"]In addition to signing LHP-OF Brooks Raley (6th round pick out of Texas A&M) for Supplemental 1st round money (he received nearly $250K more than 2nd round pick D. J. LeMahieu got), the Cubs also recently signed left-handed hitting slugging catcher Sergio Burruel (19th round pick out of Trevor Browne HS - Phoenix, AZ) to an above-slot bonus, and Burruel made his pro debut (as DH) last night for the AZL Cubs (he walked and crushed a double in four PA).

 

Arizona Phil at TCR said Sergio Burruel got over-slot money.

[Guest]

The Cubs were doing a summer follow with 34th rounder RHP Joseph Varner:

 

Del Rio News Herald[/url]"]His sophomore year at UT Arlington, Rett went 2-3 in 16 appearances, but lowered his ERA to 3.95 and ranked ninth in that category in the Southland Conference. He also struck out 44 batters in 57 innings of work.

 

Valerie says Rett’s fastball hovers around 91 to 93 mph and has been clocked as fast as 95 mph. That kind of velocity and consistency caught the eye of pro scouts and on June 11 he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 34th round of the Major League Baseball Draft.

 

“The Cubs’ scout will observe Rett over the summer and then make an offer which Rett can accept and join the professional team, or he can reject it and continue playing college ball and become eligible for next year’s pro draft,” Valerie said.

[Mephistopheles]

The important thing to remember here is that next May Brooks Raley won't be starting in Austin against the Longhorns.

[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.

 

BA now has BJ Dail as signed again.

[davell]

Alright, we've got basically a week to go, as far as signings go: It appears as if Taylor, Esquivel, and DeJiulio have all told us "no". So, out of what's left, what are we hoping for? And how many more guys is realistic to sign anyway?

 

I'm hoping for 2-3 of the following to sign.....(In ordrer of preference)

 

Whaley

Sheppard

Walker

Clark

Erickson

Dunn

Lambert

 

 

Considering we got Raley and Burruel, I won't be too upset if we don't do much else, but I definitely want as much as possible and we haven't really spent big on anyone other than Raley as it is(unless Burruel is way over slot). So, 2-3 of this group seems plausible to ask for, right?

[Wrigley Rat]

BA now has BJ Dail as signed again.

OLD STORY ABOUT B.J. DAIL (Cliff's Notes Version in Bold):

June 17, 2008

BREWSTER, Mass.—The start of the 2008 Cape Cod League season was marred late Sunday night when a pitcher with the Brewster Whitecaps sustained serious injuries after he was pinned beneath a truck that police say was driven by a teammate. Both pitchers involved in the incident are affiliated with teams in the College World Series. B.J. Dail, who was injured, was suspended from the North Carolina squad in February for a violation of team rules. Ryan Woolley, who has been charged in the incident, pitches for Georgia but did not make the 25-man roster for the CWS. Both players are 20 years old. Dail was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in critical condition late Sunday with injuries to his legs and head, though his condition has since been upgraded to serious, according to a hospital spokesman. He was first taken to Cape Cod Hospital, then was flown by medical helicopter to Boston following the 11:30 p.m. incident on Beach Plum Lane. In Orleans District Court yesterday morning, his shaken Whitecaps teammate, Woolley, pleaded not guilty to operating under the influence of alcohol resulting in serious bodily injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and minor in possession of alcohol. Police say Woolley failed field sobriety tests, and that alcohol breath tests he took at the scene and again at the Brewster Police Station registered twice the legal limit. An 18-pack of beer was found in his black 2000 Ford Ranger pickup truck, the police said. "I'm done with college . . . I'm done with the Cape Cod League . . . My baseball career is over," Woolley said over and over at the Brewster station following his arrest, Officer Patrick Varley wrote in his report. Woolley, of Montclair, Va., was released from the Barnstable County Correctional Facility yesterday after posting $500 bail. "Ryan is playing summer ball and made some poor decisions," Georgia coach David Perno said in a statement from Omaha. "It was an unfortunate incident, and he will have a tough road ahead of him now. I hope that (Dail) is going to be OK. I told the team after the game and reminded them about making good decisions and taking care of each other." Woolley is a sophomore righthander who appeared in three games for Georgia this season, giving up five runs and five hits in 1 2/3 innings. Cape Cod League president Judy Scarafile said league representatives were shocked to hear about the accident and are waiting until they get more information before commenting at length. The Cape season began on Friday. "This is a very, very sad situation and we are very, very, concerned about the player and his family," she said. "Our focus right now is to make sure this young man is OK." Police say Dail and Woolley spent Sunday evening drinking beer at the home of another player's host family, where they were watching the College World Series on television. Woolley told police he decided to stay overnight at the residence, and went outside to move his truck from the driveway to the street. As soon as he reached the street and was moving forward, Dail ran out in front of his truck and jumped on the hood, he told officers. When Woolley hit the brakes, Dail fell off and somehow became pinned under the left front tire, according to police reports. Police found Dail bleeding profusely from a wound in the back of his head, and from a large cut on his left leg. His right foot appeared to be pushed back by the tire, and he had "road rash" scrapes on both legs and his back, Officer Matthew Marshall wrote in his report. Dail was "combative and confused" as Marshall was tending to him, the report said. As Marshall was holding Dail's head, he smelled alcohol on his breath, the officer said in his report. Dail is a sophomore righthander from Raleigh, N.C., and was drafted in the 32nd round in 2006 by the Orioles. He was suspended from the North Carolina team in February for violating team rules, according to school spokesman John Martin. He would not specify the reason and did not know if Dail was scheduled to be reinstated this fall. "B.J. Dail and his family are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time," North Carolina coach Mike Fox said in a statement from Omaha. "We wish him the best and pray for a quick recovery." To have a permanent place on a Cape League roster, a player must be eligible for college play, Scarafile said. Dail was on the Cape as a temporary player, who fills in on a roster while teams are waiting for players competing in the college postseason, she said. Scarafile declined to comment on possible disciplinary action by the league, or if any other players were at the Beach Plum Lane residence Sunday night. Players, coaches and all others involved with Cape League teams are required to adhere to a code of conduct outlined in the league manual, she said. "We take it very, very seriously, in the event any aspect of the manual is violated or compromised," she said.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/news/2008/266350.html

Sorry if others already knew about his past mishaps - it was news to me!

[Outshined_One]

Blurb on Raley

 

The Cubs had reasons for the investment. In addition to the fact that Raley, 21, is considered a player who can man a variety of positions, he was rated by some experts as the No. 6 left-handed pitcher in the draft, a sure bet for a major-league spot. Raley sports three “plus” pitches, Baseball America reports, including an 87-90 mph sinker, effective slider and complementary changeup. His four-seam fastball has been clocked at 93 mph.

[craig]

BA now has BJ Dail as signed again.

 

Heh, BA now has Dail as unsigned again!

[craig]

Wilken on Jackson and the draft:

 

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/aug/13/scouting-director-says-cubs-drafted-well/

 

"We ended up taking four left-handed pitchers, five in our first 11 picks and we recently signed a sixth one," Wilken said.

 

Craig note: I suspect this means that they've signed either Erickson or Lambert.

 

Wilken's numbers are off by one, it's actually four LHP in the first 11 picks (Kirk/Rusin/Raley/Mincone). But I don't think the "recently signed a 6th one" is Raley, since then he'd be off by two rather than one, and since he seemed to be talking about high picks (four lefties should really be the three with Rusin the cheapest), five in first 11 should really be four, and then the other recent signing seems to be outside of the top 11 picks group.

 

I'd hope it would be Erickson. Not a power arm, but he was very good for Miami. Lambert was a wildman, but at draft time seemed rather signable, so probably it's just Lambert.

[Wrigley Rat]

Wilken on Jackson and the draft:

 

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/aug/13/scouting-director-says-cubs-drafted-well/

 

"We ended up taking four left-handed pitchers, five in our first 11 picks and we recently signed a sixth one," Wilken said.

 

Craig note: I suspect this means that they've signed either Erickson or Lambert.

 

Wilken's numbers are off by one, it's actually four LHP in the first 11 picks (Kirk/Rusin/Raley/Mincone). But I don't think the "recently signed a 6th one" is Raley, since then he'd be off by two rather than one, and since he seemed to be talking about high picks (four lefties should really be the three with Rusin the cheapest), five in first 11 should really be four, and then the other recent signing seems to be outside of the top 11 picks group.

 

I'd hope it would be Erickson. Not a power arm, but he was very good for Miami. Lambert was a wildman, but at draft time seemed rather signable, so probably it's just Lambert.

Just another thought - he could have meant Daley Cox as the "recently signed a sixth one." He was undrafted, so Wilken would have said "signed" rather than drafted.

[craig]

.."We ended up taking four left-handed pitchers, five in our first 11 picks and we recently signed a sixth one," Wilken said.

 

..it's actually four LHP in the first 11 picks (Kirk/Rusin/Raley/Mincone). But I don't think the "recently signed a 6th one" is Raley, since then he'd be off by two rather than one, and since he seemed to be talking about high picks (four lefties should really be the three with Rusin the cheapest), five in first 11 should really be four, and then the other recent signing seems to be outside of the top 11 picks group. ..

 

Just another thought - he could have meant Daley Cox as the "recently signed a sixth one." He was undrafted, so Wilken would have said "signed" rather than drafted.

 

Cox was actually the first lefty signed, so he wouldn't be the "recently signed" guy. The "recently signed" needs to either be Raley or somebody else.

[Wrigley Rat]

.."We ended up taking four left-handed pitchers, five in our first 11 picks and we recently signed a sixth one," Wilken said.

 

..it's actually four LHP in the first 11 picks (Kirk/Rusin/Raley/Mincone). But I don't think the "recently signed a 6th one" is Raley, since then he'd be off by two rather than one, and since he seemed to be talking about high picks (four lefties should really be the three with Rusin the cheapest), five in first 11 should really be four, and then the other recent signing seems to be outside of the top 11 picks group. ..

 

Just another thought - he could have meant Daley Cox as the "recently signed a sixth one." He was undrafted, so Wilken would have said "signed" rather than drafted.

 

Cox was actually the first lefty signed, so he wouldn't be the "recently signed" guy. The "recently signed" needs to either be Raley or somebody else.

Wilken seems to have made a bunch of mistakes in his quote there. I think he meant, "Five of our first 11 picks were pitchers." Who knows what he meant by "we recently signed a sixth one." Like you said, it was probably Raley and he included Cox in his total count of 6 lefties.

[davell]

So, with today being the day and all, will we know by midnight as to what else we may have signed? Or is it one of those things where we may see them trickle down to Arizona's roster over the next two weeks or so? I'm assuming we'll hear something on BA or somewhere else if we go overslot for someone, but still figured I'd ask......Here's hoping for some combo of Whaley, Walker, Sheppard, Taylor, and Erickson......

[craig]

So, with today being the day and all, will we know by midnight as to what else we may have signed? Or is it one of those things where we may see them trickle down to Arizona's roster over the next two weeks or so? I'm assuming we'll hear something on BA or somewhere else if we go overslot for someone, but still figured I'd ask......Here's hoping for some combo of Whaley, Walker, Sheppard, Taylor, and Erickson......

 

Good point. BA will know and report about 1st round guys or million-dollar high-profile midnight signings. And if the Cubs sign Whaley for $800K or something, maybe BA will hear and report.

 

But most likely BA isn't tracking and reporting on every unsigned pick from rounds 11 and up. So there's a fair chance that even by end of tomorrow or Wednesday that we won't have heard any reports that we signed anybody today, and probably we won't have. But I'll still be hoping that somebody did sign and we just didn't hear about it.

[Guest]

A couple of years ago, everyone knew right away when Josh Vitters signed around an hour before the deadline. But 44th rounder Bryan Jost also signed on the day of the deadline and no one mentioned it until he showed up at Fitch a few days later. So basically, I agree with Craig - you'll hear about it if it's a significant overslot.

[davearm2]

One would think it'd be a simple thing for the Cubs to issue a press release the day after the signing deadline, providing a full listing of their signees (including guys like Jackson that signed weeks ago). In fact I wonder why all teams don't do this as standard operating procedure.