2011 Cubs picks and signings thread

[toonsterwu]

Baez, Vogelbach, Maples, Dunston Jr. add them to your Cubs top 10 prospect list.

 

This is pretty incredible if they are in fact all signed. Another 2012 draft class like this and we can be loaded with talent.

 

Such refreshing/exciting news.

 

I'm still not convinced that I'm definitely going to put Vogelbach/Maples in my top 10 (of the two, I think I may slot Maples at 10), but Dunston Jr.? Not sure he's going to be in an end of the season top 20 for me. If so, he'll crack the back end, that 15-20 area where I am tempted to go with a lot of upper level relievers.

[Outshined_One]

Baez, Vogelbach, Maples, Dunston Jr. add them to your Cubs top 10 prospect list.

 

This is pretty incredible if they are in fact all signed. Another 2012 draft class like this and we can be loaded with talent.

 

Such refreshing/exciting news.

 

I'm still not convinced that I'm definitely going to put Vogelbach/Maples in my top 10 (of the two, I think I may slot Maples at 10), but Dunston Jr.? Not sure he's going to be in an end of the season top 20 for me. If so, he'll crack the back end, that 15-20 area where I am tempted to go with a lot of upper level relievers.

 

That pretty much sums it up for me. I'd have Baez as a Top 3, Vogelbach and Maples in the 10-15 range, and Dunston Jr. probably somewhere in the 20-25 area.

[iowahawkeyes89]

I sure hope this is all true

 

What a great draft if so

[imb]

Baez, Vogelbach, Maples, Dunston Jr. add them to your Cubs top 10 prospect list.

 

This is pretty incredible if they are in fact all signed. Another 2012 draft class like this and we can be loaded with talent.

 

Such refreshing/exciting news.

 

Dunston wouldn't be sniffing my top 10 this year.

 

Trevor Bauer and Sonny Gray signed today. Bauer is the first '11 draftee picked before Baez to sign. (Side note: Bauer will be pitching in high-A Wednesday and when Gray is stretched out, he'll head to AA.)

 

Funny, considering Gray tweeted the other day that he and his Vandy roommate had their new apt picked out

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

By the end of next year the Cubs will have a top 5 farm system. Just calling it now.

[Guest]

By the end of next year the Cubs will have a top 5 farm system. Just calling it now.

An awful lot of the draftees are younger kids who will probably take a while to rise to the top of prospect lists. For the Cubs to be a top 5 farm system at the end of next year, a lot of the draftees from previous years will have to break out.

[Outshined_One]

By the end of next year the Cubs will have a top 5 farm system. Just calling it now.

 

None of this information has been confirmed, either. We need to be cautious.

 

However, between this draft, the potential 2012 top 5 draft pick, the emergence of legitimately intriguing Latin American position prospects in the DSL and AZL, and the possibility that one of the high ceiling arms in Peoria/Boise has a breakout season next year, there is reason for optimism for this farm system going forward.

[Outshined_One]

Ricky Jacquez tweets:

 

Hope something can get done with the cubs if not off to UT!

[craig]

10th-rounder Danny Lockhart has agreed to sign:

Quote

Lockhart, a 10th-round selection in this year’s Major League Baseball draft, agreed to terms with the Cubs recently but hasn’t officially signed his paperwork. The Hebron Christian grad expecting a call from club officials any day to report to Arizona to complete his signing.

 

 

26th-rounder Michael Jensen is also in the fold:

Quote

Former Salinas High and Hartnell College pitcher Michael Jensen is a Chicago Cub.

The right-hander is giving up his scholarship to USC, having signed today with the Cubs.

Jensen compiled a 2.00 earned run average last spring for Hartnell, showcasing a fastball in the low 90's

.

 

Excellent news. I'm especially enthused about Jensen. Good numbers and 2.0 in the high-level California JUCO ranks is excellent, and that's as a highly-regarded guy entering the season (he was a pre-season JUCO all-American.) USC doesn't need to offer scholarships to guys who don't have reasonably good arms.

 

I don't know anything, but I actually had both Jensen and Zimmer well ahead of Jacquez on my hope-we-sign wish list.

[Guancous]

Ricky Jacquez tweets:

 

Hope something can get done with the cubs if not off to UT!

 

Here's an article about the signings from Bleacher Nation (not the execrable Bleacher Report): http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/07/27/the-chicago-cubs-may-be-on-the-verge-of-adding-yet-another-top-high-school-draft-pick/

[scarey]

Ricky Jacquez tweets:

 

Hope something can get done with the cubs if not off to UT!

 

Here's an article about the signings from Bleacher Nation (not the execrable Bleacher Report): http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/07/27/the-chicago-cubs-may-be-on-the-verge-of-adding-yet-another-top-high-school-draft-pick/

 

Good to see you're a reader. Bleacher Nation is actually ran by our very own AceCubbie. In my biased opinion, one of the very best Cubs blogs out there.

 

I didn't plan on Cubs being motivated enough to sign Jacquez to what he was wanting given his injury issue. Now, I'm excited at the possibility of adding him.

[Guest]

@jimcallisBA: Think they'll sign SEVERAL over-slot guys. @dddegroot: #Cubs could sign Jensen, Vogelbach, Jacquez, Maples and Dunston to deals? #mlbdraft

[CUBZ99]

@jimcallisBA: Think they'll sign SEVERAL over-slot guys. @dddegroot: #Cubs could sign Jensen, Vogelbach, Jacquez, Maples and Dunston to deals? #mlbdraft

 

Raisin did you do your usual breakdown of Cubs draft picks this year? Those have been excellent over the last few years. I see some quick blurbs in this thread but can't find anything else.

[Brett]

Ricky Jacquez tweets:

 

Hope something can get done with the cubs if not off to UT!

 

Here's an article about the signings from Bleacher Nation (not the execrable Bleacher Report): http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/07/27/the-chicago-cubs-may-be-on-the-verge-of-adding-yet-another-top-high-school-draft-pick/

 

Good to see you're a reader. Bleacher Nation is actually ran by our very own AceCubbie. In my biased opinion, one of the very best Cubs blogs out there.

 

I didn't plan on Cubs being motivated enough to sign Jacquez to what he was wanting given his injury issue. Now, I'm excited at the possibility of adding him.

 

Thanks, Scarey. I do what I can.

[toonsterwu]

By the end of next year the Cubs will have a top 5 farm system. Just calling it now.

 

I agree with Tim. This is probably a tad wishful thinking. I hope you are right, but I don't see it. Top 5 systems tend to have several elite prospects, and at least one or two elite guys in the upper levels. Who are the elite prospects that are going to rise by the end of 2012? Szczur? Perhaps, but the power has to develop for him to be elite.

 

For us to be top 5, I think all the young arms basically have to excel and develop, guys like Szczur, Golden, Baez have to really take big steps forward, McNutt/Whitenack and maybe one more arm probably needs a strong season (and Whitenack probably won't be back until late in the year), and all the 2nd tier guys have to do well. Just tend to think that's a tad on the hopeful side.

 

Just not sure there's enough pieces top be top 5. Top 10? I could see if things go well. Top 15 (as most have us in that 16-25 range right now, in all likelihood)? Perhaps.

[toonsterwu]

10th-rounder Danny Lockhart has agreed to sign:

Quote

Lockhart, a 10th-round selection in this year’s Major League Baseball draft, agreed to terms with the Cubs recently but hasn’t officially signed his paperwork. The Hebron Christian grad expecting a call from club officials any day to report to Arizona to complete his signing.

 

 

26th-rounder Michael Jensen is also in the fold:

Quote

Former Salinas High and Hartnell College pitcher Michael Jensen is a Chicago Cub.

The right-hander is giving up his scholarship to USC, having signed today with the Cubs.

Jensen compiled a 2.00 earned run average last spring for Hartnell, showcasing a fastball in the low 90's

.

 

Excellent news. I'm especially enthused about Jensen. Good numbers and 2.0 in the high-level California JUCO ranks is excellent, and that's as a highly-regarded guy entering the season (he was a pre-season JUCO all-American.) USC doesn't need to offer scholarships to guys who don't have reasonably good arms.

 

I don't know anything, but I actually had both Jensen and Zimmer well ahead of Jacquez on my hope-we-sign wish list.

 

I am pretty excited about Jensen as well. He's just growing into his stuff (been awhile since I looked at it, but I'm pretty sure he was the kid that only started hitting mid-90's this past season).

[toonsterwu]

Has there been any news on Justin Marra of late? With Rosario/Lopez signed, I imagine Marra is probably more of a backburner type, but he piqued my curiosity.

[Guest]

dylan (ks): where do the cubs stand with vogelbach & maples?

 

Jim Callis: Rumors persists in the industry that Vogelbach is done or all but done. He was asking for $1.65 million before the draft, and if the Cubs give him that much, it won't get announced until Aug. 15. I keep hearing the Cubs will go overslot for 9-10 guys at the top of the draft, but it's unclear whether that group will include Maples.

 

@DREWBOKE (IL): What are the cubs plan for Tony Zych once he signs? fast to the majors reliever or try him as a starter?

 

Jim Callis: His fastball is his lone above-average pitch, though his slider has its moments. He also was in the bullpen throughout his college career. Definitely looks like a reliever to me.

[Guest]

@jimcallisBA: Think they'll sign SEVERAL over-slot guys. @dddegroot: #Cubs could sign Jensen, Vogelbach, Jacquez, Maples and Dunston to deals? #mlbdraft

 

Raisin did you do your usual breakdown of Cubs draft picks this year? Those have been excellent over the last few years. I see some quick blurbs in this thread but can't find anything else.

 

I posted full scouting reports at the time of the draft days, you'll have to dig around a bit in the first 15 pages. In the first post, Outshined_One and I have been editing in brief blurbs on players who have officially signed.

[davell]

According to the guy on PSD who appears to have contacts, Zych wants second round money and Scott had a prearranged deal with the Cubs, but he reneged and wants more money now. Sounded confident Zych will be in the fold, but certainly less so with Scott.

 

 

Great news on Jensen for sure. The more I read the more intrigued I became. Another rumor from this guy is we have a Trevor Bauer-esque type offer out there for that Garcia Speck guy we had been rumored to be drafting in the first round. Of course, there are other teams in on him as well(including the Yankees).

 

Nevertheless, what we're trying to do with all aspects of the farm system is definitely encouraging.

[Guest]

17th round OF John Andreoli:

 

@KendallRogersPG: Penders also said the #Huskies feel cautiously optimistic about John Andreoli #Cubs and David Fischer #Giants returning this fall. #BigEast

[Outshined_One]

Lockhart confirmed.

[larhur]

I see a great many posters are ready to annoint our farm system a top 10 or even a top 5 system and I don't even see a single player anyone could say is the best or close to the best in the minor leagues.

Question, who is the best at each position in our system, is Jackson our best outfielder, who is our top right handed starter, shortstop, I really don't know....

.

[Guest]

I see a great many posters are ready to annoint our farm system a top 10 or even a top 5 system and I don't even see a single player anyone could say is the best or close to the best in the minor leagues.

 

Of course, by "a great many" you mean "one person predicted that would be the case 15 months from now, with multiple people disagreeing almost immediately".

[TruffleShuffle]

I see a great many posters are ready to annoint our farm system a top 10 or even a top 5 system and I don't even see a single player anyone could say is the best or close to the best in the minor leagues.

 

Of course, by "a great many" you mean "one person predicted that would be the case 15 months from now, with multiple people disagreeing almost immediately".

 

that one poster's voice carried a LOT of weight.

 

and yeah, like 90% of the organizations in baseball don't have a single player that anyone could say is close to bryce harper/mike trout