2011 Cubs picks and signings thread

[Hrubes20]

From the BA prospects chat:

If Cubs are able to sign the likes of Maples, Dunston Jr, and Jacquez, as well as Vogelbach, Baez, and Gretzky, are all those guys immediately Top 20 prospects for them?

I'd say yes on Baez, Vogel-bomb and Maples and probably on Jacquez, who I really like though he's small. Not so much on the legacy kids.

 

Yeah, Dunston Jr. and Gretzky are just too raw right now.

[Guest]

Kendall Rodgers does not slam the door shut on Taylor Dugas:

 

#Alabama should feel cautiously optimistic about #Cubs 8th-rdr, outfielder Taylor Dugas. But a long way until the deadline.

 

#Marlins 44th-round pick Zack LaNeve is already going to school and #Cubs 14th-round pick Dillon Maples could go either way.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Kendall Rodgers does not slam the door shut on Taylor Dugas:

 

#Alabama should feel cautiously optimistic about #Cubs 8th-rdr, outfielder Taylor Dugas. But a long way until the deadline.

 

#Marlins 44th-round pick Zack LaNeve is already going to school and #Cubs 14th-round pick Dillon Maples could go either way.

 

Show him the money!

[Rob]

Per Jim Callis on twitter:

 

#Cubs sign 5th-rder Tayler Scott for $279,950. Slot = $157.5k. Arizona HS RHP throws 90-93, flashes good breaker. #Arizona commit. #mlbdraft

[Tryptamine]

Between the international signings and if the Cubs even signed 2 of Baez, Vogelbach and Maples it looks like they're going to spend in excess of 10M this year. Isn't that a pretty sizable jump from last year. I think I remember them being around 7 or 7.5M.

[seattlecub]

I believe the cub spent about $12M last year on international signings and draft, if you include the Cuban players they signed. BA has separate listings somewhere detailing international spending (not including Cuban signees) and draft spending (which I'm pretty sure doesn't account for Szczur's revised deal). I could be wrong, but I think it's right around there. Either way, if they sign Baez, Vogelbach and Maples, I think they'll be close to that just (somewhere in the neighborhood of $10M) in the draft alone, and it looks like international spending wil be up as well. I think there's a chance total spending in these two areas could be in the $18M-20M range this year, when all is said and done.

[toonsterwu]

Per Jim Callis on twitter:

 

#Cubs sign 5th-rder Tayler Scott for $279,950. Slot = $157.5k. Arizona HS RHP throws 90-93, flashes good breaker. #Arizona commit. #mlbdraft

 

nice. It's good to add a crop of high ceiling arms behind the guys in the low levels right now. With Scott/Jensen and others, there's some quality potential. Obviously, the hope is to land Maples.

[Outshined_One]

Per UConn's Twitter, John Andreoli has signed with the Cubs.

 

Link

[toonsterwu]

That's a surprise ... I hope some of these signings coming of late (Shoulders, Andreoli, Marra) doesn't indicate that some of the higher profile targets aren't signing (and thus, more money being spread around). Doesn't seem like that's the indication (since all the Maples talk is still 50/50).

[Rob]

That's a surprise ... I hope some of these signings coming of late (Shoulders, Andreoli, Marra) doesn't indicate that some of the higher profile targets aren't signing (and thus, more money being spread around). Doesn't seem like that's the indication (since all the Maples talk is still 50/50).

 

I can't imagine Andreoli is gonna be a budget-buster with his limited ceiling.

[toonsterwu]

nah, he probably won't be, but for most of the summer, the vibe seemed to suggest that the cubs weren't offering him enough to turn pro, so i wonder what changed (probably the Cubs increased, and if so, how much did they increase it by and was it reflective of other situations).

 

Only a few more days to go, I guess.

[MSG T]

nah, he probably won't be, but for most of the summer, the vibe seemed to suggest that the cubs weren't offering him enough to turn pro, so i wonder what changed (probably the Cubs increased, and if so, how much did they increase it by and was it reflective of other situations).

 

Only a few more days to go, I guess.

 

 

Just taking the optimistic outlook here, but maybe they didn't spend quite as much as they thought they would to get some of the bigger names and were able to go a little higher in other places (like the Shoulders signing)? Just a guess, since I'm hoping they got a bunch of those bigger names.

[tfarks]

nah, he probably won't be, but for most of the summer, the vibe seemed to suggest that the cubs weren't offering him enough to turn pro, so i wonder what changed (probably the Cubs increased, and if so, how much did they increase it by and was it reflective of other situations).

 

Only a few more days to go, I guess.

 

 

Just taking the optimistic outlook here, but maybe they didn't spend quite as much as they thought they would to get some of the bigger names and were able to go a little higher in other places (like the Shoulders signing)? Just a guess, since I'm hoping they got a bunch of those bigger names.

 

Could be the freed up money of not signing Ricky Jacquez. Which I'm speculating just based off of his tweet.

[Brett]

nah, he probably won't be, but for most of the summer, the vibe seemed to suggest that the cubs weren't offering him enough to turn pro, so i wonder what changed (probably the Cubs increased, and if so, how much did they increase it by and was it reflective of other situations).

 

Only a few more days to go, I guess.

 

 

Just taking the optimistic outlook here, but maybe they didn't spend quite as much as they thought they would to get some of the bigger names and were able to go a little higher in other places (like the Shoulders signing)? Just a guess, since I'm hoping they got a bunch of those bigger names.

 

Could be the freed up money of not signing Ricky Jacquez. Which I'm speculating just based off of his tweet.

 

His later tweets say things like "you never know," suggesting he could still go either way. I tend to think he and Dunston have already made their decision (in one direction or another), and are just having some fun with the process a la the lead up to "Signing Day" in college football. I say good for them. Have some fun.

[Rob]

The Gretsky deal is back on. Once again, per Jim Callis on twitter:

 

#Cubs deal w/7th-rder Trevor Gretzky is official. Calif HS 1B/son of Wayne got $375k, has projectable power. San Diego St recruit. #mlbdraft

[StarlinOnYou]

The Gretsky deal is back on. Once again, per Jim Callis on twitter:

 

#Cubs deal w/7th-rder Trevor Gretzky is official. Calif HS 1B/son of Wayne got $375k, has projectable power. San Diego St recruit. #mlbdraft

 

Good to hear.

[CubsWin]

So check me on this. According to articles linked to in this thread, and assuming Baez and Vogelbach sign, this is the list of confirmed guys as it stands now.

 

1. Javier Baez - SS

2. Dan Vogelbach - 1B

3. Zeke DeVoss - CF/2B

5. Taylor Scott - RHP

6. Neftali Rosario - C

7. Trevor Gretzky - 1B

9. Garrett Schlecht - OF

10. Daniel Lockhart - SS

13. Darien Martin - OF

15. Justin Marra - C

16. Rafael Lopez - C

17. John Andreoli - OF

18. James Pugilese - RHP

19. Paul Hoilman - 1B

20. Ben Klafczynski - OF

21. Andrew McKirahan - LHP

22. Ethan Elias - RHP

25. Rock Shoulders - 1B

26. Michael Jensen - RHP

27. Taiwan Easterling - OF

30. Arturo Maltos-Garcia - RHP

32. Pete Levitt - RHP

33. Sheldon McDonald - LHP

36. Travis Garcia - 3B

38. Casey Lucchese - RHP

40. P.J. Francescon - RHP

42. Brad Zapenas - SS

44. Kenny Socorro - SS

46. Steve Weismann - RHP

 

That's 29 signees with Dunston, Jr., Maples, Jacquez and Zych still out there.

 

Am I including someone I shouldn't? Have I left anyone out?

[Tryptamine]

So check me on this. According to articles linked to in this thread, and assuming Baez and Vogelbach sign, this is the list of confirmed guys as it stands now.

 

1. Javier Baez - SS

2. Dan Vogelbach - 1B

3. Zeke DeVoss - CF/2B

5. Taylor Scott - RHP

6. Neftali Rosario - C

7. Trevor Gretzky - 1B

9. Garrett Schlecht - OF

10. Daniel Lockhart - SS

13. Darien Martin - OF

15. Justin Marra - C

16. Rafael Lopez - C

17. John Andreoli - OF

18. James Pugilese - RHP

19. Paul Hoilman - 1B

20. Ben Klafczynski - OF

21. Andrew McKirahan - LHP

22. Ethan Elias - RHP

25. Rock Shoulders - 1B

26. Michael Jensen - RHP

27. Taiwan Easterling - OF

30. Arturo Maltos-Garcia - RHP

32. Pete Levitt - RHP

33. Sheldon McDonald - LHP

36. Travis Garcia - 3B

38. Casey Lucchese - RHP

40. P.J. Francescon - RHP

42. Brad Zapenas - SS

44. Kenny Socorro - SS

46. Steve Weismann - RHP

 

That's 29 signees with Dunston, Jr., Maples, Jacquez and Zych still out there.

 

Am I including someone I shouldn't? Have I left anyone out?

 

I believe 41st rounder Austin Urban was a rumored sign as well.

[CyHawk_Cub]

^^ Dang, if Maples signs (& assuming Baez is done too), that's a pretty damn good haul out of one draft. Even if Maples doesn't sign, still pretty damn good.

[Guest]

officially official:

 

CUBS SIGN INFIELDER TREVOR GRETZKY,

SEVENTH-ROUND SELECTION FROM 2011 DRAFT

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2011

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs have signed infielder Trevor Gretzky, their seventh round selection from the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. Gretzky was selected out of Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, Calif. and was recommended by area scout Tim Kissner.

 

“The Cubs are thrilled to welcome Trevor Gretzky to the organization,” said General Manager Jim Hendry. “It was a pleasure working with the Gretzky family on this contract and we are excited by Trevor’s decision to begin his pro baseball career with the Cubs.”

 

Gretzky, 18, finished his senior season with a .393 batting average (42-for-107), 10 doubles, four triples, a home run and 27 RBI in 31 games for Oaks Christian in 2011. The six-foot, four-inch, 190-pounder recorded a .450 on-base percentage and was nine-for-10 in stolen base attempts. A left-handed hitter and right-handed fielder, Gretzky played first base and the outfield last season.

 

Gretzky is the son of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, and also played quarterback on the high school’s varsity football team. He had committed to San Diego State University prior to signing with the Cubs.

[tfarks]

Wow I had no idea the guy hit 1 HR in high school last year. I hit more than that.

 

That is certainly some projectable power they're seeing

[StarlinOnYou]

I saw the same thing tfarks and was a bit confused.

[Guest]

He played with some sort of shoulder injury that requires surgery. That hopefully explains his lack of power.

[craig]

A .450 OBP when you're hitting .393 isn't too hot in the patience department, either.

 

The Cubs drafting a free swinger? Who'd have guessed?

 

Seriously, though, I think we shouldn't be misled by the value-per-dollar. Just because we're paying everybody like a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round pick (or higher, once we get our last guys signed) doesn't mean we're really going to get 20 of the best 150 guys in the draft. These guys have the leverage, and they're going to get well overpaid to get signed. Gretzky, Schlecht, Dunston if/when he signs, Maples, Shoulders for sure, Vogelbach, DeVoss, Zych, Taylor, I think all of these guys will be kind of overpaid.

 

We've been wishing that the team would be willing to overpay to have a chance at guys. Certainly most of the guys getting paid won't work out, and perhaps none will. I just hope we don't spend the next five years complaining that the players aren't living up to their bonuses.

 

But it's sure fun for now. And hopefully a lot funner by next Tuesday.

[craig]

http://m.tribune-democrat.com/TTD/db_265842/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=AwTXnwGz&detailindex=0&pn=0&ps=5

 

Austin Urban, 41st round RHP, turned 19 last month, says that he's signed.

 

Why do I guess that he'll later announce that he got 4th round bonus and college coverage?

 

His scouting report was that he was wild, had a bad delivery, but threw 90-92, has touched 94, and has a slider.