2011 Cubs picks and signings thread

[mookie]

Whatever. At this point, I hope we just take all the high upside guys we can, and simply throw them against the wall and see who sticks.

[Guest]

Perfect Game:

 

SCOUTING PROFILE: Baez is one of two potential first-round picks in the 2011 high-school class that was born and raised in Puerto Rico before moving to the United States. The other is Montverde Academy shortstop Francisco Lindor. Baez was raised in Toa Baja, while Lindor moved to Toa Baja from Cagaus in 2004. They played together in the same Toa Baja youth league, though in different age groups, as Lindor is a year younger, until Baez moved to the United States late in 2005. Baez and Lindor have had their paths cross a couple of times since. Both were members of the East team at the 2010 Aflac All-American Game and the two shortstops also played against each other on Feb. 18 in what might have been the most heavily-scouted game of the spring. The contest between Arlington Country Day and Montverde Academy drew an estimated 150 scouts. Baez was solid in that game, going 1-for-3 with a triple and walk, while Lindor wowed scouts with a 3-for-3 performance. Both players made several excellent fielding plays. Baez has continued to play at a fast pace and was hitting .463-13-42 through 25 games. He had been charged with just one error. While Lindor has been an established prospect since his freshman year, Baez’ rise up the prospect charts has been relatively recent. He was essentially an unknown commodity in the scouting community when he joined the East Cobb Braves for the Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational last June 10-13. Off that performance, he was immediately invited to Perfect Game’s National Showcase the next week, and his tools and competitiveness stood out on a national stage. Baez has a strong, square-shouldered build, but is a loose, agile athlete with plenty of quick-twitch ability. He has outstanding bat speed from the right side with an extended, aggressive swing with plenty of lift that enables him to drive balls up the alleys and over the fence to any part of the field. While Baez’ offensive potential intrigues scouts the most, he has impressive defensive tools, as well, that enable him to play a number of positions. He plays shortstop for his high-school team, but spent last summer primarily at third base due to his thicker build and 6.9-second speed in the 60. The temptation may exist for the team that drafts Baez to install him at third base, given the tremendous offensive contribution he could make at that position, but Baez has solid shortstop actions, good first-step quickness, nice balance on the run and plenty of arm strength. Another position that has intrigued scouts is catcher, and Baez tried his hand at there briefly at the East Coast Professional Showcase last August. He got passing reviews, considering his extreme lack of experience there. Perhaps more than any player in this draft class, Baez plays the game with a combination of Latin flair and competitive fire, which can be viewed positively or negatively, depending on the context each individual scout sees it shown. Baez initially committed to Florida’s Chipola Junior College, and also signed just recently with Jacksonville University in the current NCAA signing period. Projected Draft Position: Second half of first round. --DAVID RAWNSLEY

 

I wouldn't fret over the projected draft position. He was expected to go 8 - 15.

[pitchcs]

He can live with Z

[Guest]

Scouting Report:

 

Javier Baez is one of the tougher draft prospects to get a handle on. He is a likely first rounder, but there is little consensus on his value as a prospect. Some rave about his tools, while others don’t see him as worthy of a first round selection.

 

Offensively, Baez does have good bat speed and he consistently makes solid contact. He has some power and lift.

 

Baez plays shortstop currently, but has also played third and has even caught a little. He is a good athlete, who should be able to remain at short if given the chance. He has solid footwork, moves well, and has an adequate arm. Some think he will move over to third at some point due to his frame. His bat will play better if he is able to remain at a middle infield spot.

 

Awards/Achievements:

 

2011 Rawlings 1st Team Preseason All-American

2011 Rawlings 1st Team Florida All-Region

2010 AFLAC All-American

 

http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/javierbaez.jpg

 

http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/05/21/javier-baez-draft-profile/

[Post Count Padder]

Better than some Cuban kid no one's heard of

[Guest]

• The Cubs were hoping Starling or A Bradley would fall to them at 9. Now they may be hoping for Lindor.
  
• So much for that, Lindor to Cleveland at 8.
  
• Baez to the Cubs at 9. I’m not his biggest fan but there are plenty of people who think he has the most upside of any position player left on the board.

 

- MLB Draft Day Guide blog

[pitchcs]

So what's the plan tomorrow? They got their high upside, young hitter. Some established pitching and more quick to the majors successful college players?

[Guest]

Project Prospect[/url]"]Javier Baez (SS/3B, Arlington Country Day School, Florida) - Baez is a guy you can break down by his mechanics a bit, as there are certainly some things to take a deep look at. The power and bat speed are there to be an impact bat at the major league level, but how he gets his bat speed makes me wonder about his ability to consistently square up advanced pitching. Baez starts with his hands close to his head and has a full, long load behind him, with plenty of arm involvement along the way. This is great for bat speed but not so great for keeping the swing compact. Personally I'd like to see what Baez looks like with a tight and aggressive 'hand-pump' trigger -- some people might call this a 'hitch', but it isn't. Such a move should help cut a chunk of length from his swing yet give him the same bat speed. There may be a bit of extra barrel awareness thrown in as an added benefit. Baez does know how to use his hands, gets very good extension, and does a good job of letting his hips get rolling before his hands come through. The pitch down will be a strength for him, but hard stuff up might cause trouble. It’s easy to say ‘he’ll learn how to shorten up,’ but that doesn’t answer if he can shorten up and still maintain his current bat speed without using his arms to generate it. The last thing you want to do to a hitter is make him short and turn him into a Judy simply so he can make more contact. His frame won’t hold a ton more strength, even if he does move to third base -- like some people project -- and can bulk up a bit there. How Baez adjusts the length of his swing and whether or not he can maintain his bat speed will determine his future.

[Outshined_One]

So what's the plan tomorrow? They got their high upside, young hitter. Some established pitching and more quick to the majors successful college players?

 

We'll have to wait and see how the supplemental 1st shakes out, which might take awhile considering the Rays have like eight billion picks between now and the end of today.

[Guest]

Florida Times-Union write up on Baez

 

http://jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/editorial/images/images/mdControlled/cms/2011/06/06/840317876.jpg

 

He has a tattoo of the MLB logo on his neck:

 

http://jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/baez2.jpg

[Guest]

Sporting News write up on Baez: http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/feed/2011-06/mlb-draft-2011/story/mlb-draft-profile-ss-javier-baez

[tfarks]

Count me in with the group that likes grabbing the guys with high ceilings - this system needs as many as it can get. If you need improvement with plate discipline than having the best bat speed in the draft helps you sit back on pitches better, which goes a long way. The power certainly helps as well.

[toonsterwu]

I am fairly happy with this pick. There were only two guys I preferred a touch more - Sonny Gray and Taylor Guerrieri, relative to what was on the board. I like Baez's chance to hit for power, and it's nice to get a good corner prospect (even if the Cubs keep him in MI for a few years, I fully expect him to move to the corner at some point).

[pitchcs]

I am fairly happy with this pick. There were only two guys I preferred a touch more - Sonny Gray and Taylor Guerrieri, relative to what was on the board. I like Baez's chance to hit for power, and it's nice to get a good corner prospect (even if the Cubs keep him in MI for a few years, I fully expect him to move to the corner at some point).

 

And you know what toons, it makes me feel a bit better that 9 other teams passed on Gray and 9+ on Guerrieri. I was right there with you earlier, but that eases me a bit.

[82TonyM]

When is our next pick? 69? Do we have any extra picks?

[pitchcs]

This just in: Cubs are losing their actual real life baseball game that counts

[Tryptamine]

When is our next pick? 69? Do we have any extra picks?

 

If you mean supplemental picks then no.

[Yeti]

 

He has a tattoo of the MLB logo on his neck:

 

http://jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/baez2.jpg

that's a terrible tattoo, not the idea, just the execution

[Guest]

When is our next pick? 69? Do we have any extra picks?

 

If you mean supplemental picks then no.

We don't offer arbitration anymore. :(

[Guancous]

Did the Cubs go cheap again?

 

Who else is out there worth spending big on? Maybe Bell?

 

Bell sent a letter to all the teams pleading not to draft him because he's going to school. Asking for a $30 million bonus is negotiating. Telling teams not to bother until 2014 is not.

[XZero771679666304]

This just in: Cubs are losing their actual real life baseball game that counts

 

It counts in the loosest sense.

 

And I like the upside of this pick. It sounds like he could well develop into good power and I doesn't seem like there any glaring weaknesses. His hands look busy but his swing looks smooth and quick, and he looks pretty well put together for a HS guy, so there won't be a huge need for him to bulk up.

[Tryptamine]

Did the Cubs go cheap again?

 

Who else is out there worth spending big on? Maybe Bell?

 

Bell sent a letter to all the teams pleading not to draft him because he's going to school. Asking for a $30 million bonus is negotiating. Telling teams not to bother until 2014 is not.

 

Even so I would mind the Cubs taking the chance a little later on.

[Guest]

When is our next pick? 69? Do we have any extra picks?

 

68

[Rob]

Did the Cubs go cheap again?

 

Who else is out there worth spending big on? Maybe Bell?

 

Bell sent a letter to all the teams pleading not to draft him because he's going to school. Asking for a $30 million bonus is negotiating. Telling teams not to bother until 2014 is not.

 

The rumored pricetag to get him away from his college commitment was 5.8-6.2 mil.

 

I'm not saying he's worth anywhere near that much. But he was probably a bit better than Baez... just not 3-4 mil better.

[Guest]

Did the Cubs go cheap again?

 

Who else is out there worth spending big on? Maybe Bell?

 

Bell sent a letter to all the teams pleading not to draft him because he's going to school. Asking for a $30 million bonus is negotiating. Telling teams not to bother until 2014 is not.

 

Even so I would mind the Cubs taking the chance a little later on.

 

Doubt he'll make it to 68. He's steering himself to a team. (Texas? Boston?)