2017 Draft Thread

[toonsterwu]

Not sure why I'm thinking about this right now, probably having work to do on a Friday night leads to the mind drifting, but in some ways, this is a critical draft for two reasons. First, while they need as many impacts arms as they can get, it will be crucial to restock the positional asset depth in the system this year. By the time these draft picks are ready, the organization will likely be making critical decisions on which young MLB players will or won't get extensions, and while I can talk about how I am intrigued with the system this winter, there aren't that many guys that you really want as long term pieces.

 

The second aspect is more a broader perspective issue, but the Reds/Pirates/Brewers all have fairly solid to good systems, and the Cards, while I don't like their system all that much, a lot of folks seem to like it more than enough (and I'll acknowledge they have depth and the potential for some of those guys to "pop"). It's absolutely fantastic where this system is considering the entire dynamics of the last couple seasons, but to sustain things, we'll need to restock the shelves.

 

With the way the picks are, I am mildly curious if they try to load up for one or two big gets (seems a bit unlikely, but if they like the depth of the system ... ).

 

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As a draft sidenote, I saw BA's top 100 college list by Teddy Cahill. Being a UVA fan, I was pleasantly surprised by Ernie Clement's placement. He did have a strong summer, IIRC, but I thought he'd be lower. If he can handle short well enough (and he has the tools to), I feel like he could be a nice sleeper to make a move this season. I think there might be even be a little pop, albeit not enough to jump way up the board. (as another UVA aside, I think Tommy Doyle is way too high unless he has a superb season).

 

Oh, since UK was talking about him, a bit surprised Skoug is so low on a college list. I thought the bat would push him up a bit this year.

[UK]

It's a fair placement for Skoug. I'm biased but White should be about 10 spots higher.

[toonsterwu]

It's a fair placement for Skoug. I'm biased but White should be about 10 spots higher.

 

I'm assuming Evan White?

 

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I still don't love Kevin Smith. Seen him a few times, definitely understand the intrigue, but that seems awfully high to me.

 

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I'm biased for UVA, but I really wouldn't be surprised if Derek Casey finally got going and jumped up lists this year. He had TJ last year, but he had electric stuff out of high school. Should get a chance to be the Friday starter for UVA.

[UK]

It's a fair placement for Skoug. I'm biased but White should be about 10 spots higher.

 

I'm assuming Evan White?

 

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I still don't love Kevin Smith. Seen him a few times, definitely understand the intrigue, but that seems awfully high to me.

 

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I'm biased for UVA, but I really wouldn't be surprised if Derek Casey finally got going and jumped up lists this year. He had TJ last year, but he had electric stuff out of high school. Should get a chance to be the Friday starter for UVA.

 

Yep, I really like White.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cubs officially locked in at picks 27 and 30.

[Regular Show]

So the Cubs total pool money for 2017 MLB Draft is $7,099,300. So, by my math the Cubs have roughly $7.45 million they can spend before penalties (includes the 5% over the pool amount).

 

Cubs picks and slot amount:

 

#27: $2,260,100

#30: $2,080,100

#67: $858,900

#105: $487,500

#135: $364,100

#165: $272,200

#195: $212,000

#225: $167,100

#255: $141,400

#285: $130,900

#315: $125,000

 

There are a few other changes. Teams can spend up to $125,000 now before it counts against the team's pool amount. I was hoping that would increase to something like $200k, but whatever. I was hoping they would create a mandatory combine, where they could do physicals and drug-testing for the top 200 prospects in the draft. Never got around to it during the latest CBA discussions.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2017-mlb-draft-slots-bonus-pools/#uJw7dz8YRYSwffaY.97

[davell]

I hate that they decided to "fix" a system that wasn't broken back before the QO. These new changes don't seem to do much of anything, in my mind.

 

We've got the 18th highest bonus pool. I want to see us find a way to trade for pick 36, from the Marlins. Its worth almost 1.8 mill and the Marlins and they don't even like spending money on amateurs. It'd take us from 18th to 10th in pool money.

 

Someone will get that pick, might as well be us.

[CubsWin]

We've got the 18th highest bonus pool. I want to see us find a way to trade for pick 36, from the Marlins. Its worth almost 1.8 mill and the Marlins and they don't even like spending money on amateurs. It'd take us from 18th to 10th in pool money.

 

Someone will get that pick, might as well be us.

I would love that, too. Any idea what it would take?

[davell]

We've got the 18th highest bonus pool. I want to see us find a way to trade for pick 36, from the Marlins. Its worth almost 1.8 mill and the Marlins and they don't even like spending money on amateurs. It'd take us from 18th to 10th in pool money.

 

Someone will get that pick, might as well be us.

I would love that, too. Any idea what it would take?

 

They traded the 39th pick in 2014, for Bryan Morris, to the Pirates. He had a 1st round pedigree, but was nothing more than a middle reliever. They're obviously trying to build up their pen and they even have their highest payroll of all time currently. So, skimping on the draft seems like a fairly safe bet for them.

 

Maybe the price has gone up, now that teams know the system a bit better, and the realization how valuable the slot money truly is.....

 

But, I could see something like Zagunis(for when Ozuna inevitably gets moved), a hard throwing pen arm that's ML ready, like Pena or Rosario, and maybe a low level pitcher they can dream on, if it takes a 3rd piece. Like a Moreno or Rondon.

 

May not even take that much, considering their cheapness, and how they're probably just waiting to move the pick.(which I THINK can't be dealt, until the season starts)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Chris Crawford mock draft: http://m.herosports.com/mlb-draft/2017-mock-reds-tab-hunter-greene-oakland-kyle-wright-c6c6

 

​27. CHICAGO CUBS

RICARDO DE LA TORRE, SS

PUERTO RICO BASEBALL ACADEMY

The Cubs are very good at baseball, and don't have any pressing needs on the big-league club. They can definitely wait on a prospect like De La Torre who can pick it at shortstop, and he should (could) hit enough to be a regular. This is not Carlos Correa, but he's not far from being Delvin Perez.

 

Mock 1.0: Quentin Holmes, OF -- Monsignor McClancy HS (N.Y.)

 

30. CHICAGO CUBS

CALVIN MITCHELL, OF

RANCHO BERNARDO HS (CALIF.)

This is another team doubling up on 'types,' but again, the Cubs are so good and have a strong enough farm system that absolutely can go best player available (note: every team should do this at all times). Mitchell is limited to left field, but he can really hit, and there's some power coming as well.

 

Mock 1.0: Ricky Tyler Thomas, LHP -- Fresno State

[Cubswin11]

Good, horsefeathers pitchers. Especially when it comes to drafting them in early rounds.

[weis21]

I'm less aware of Crawford but RBHS is a legendary program so hes going to be a relatively highly viewed guy.

 

Guessing you mean MItchell?

[OleMissCub]

Jared Poche, senior LHP at LSU. So far:

 

3-0, 22 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER, 15 K, 2 walks

[davell]

I expect we will take at least one pitcher at 27 or 30. Maybe a guy that's fallen to signing demands or a very high profile guy that's hurt. McLeod's recent comments on percentages of rotations filled by first round picks seemed like a definite hint to me.

[imb]

Theo's next assignment is to find us a Mike Trout at the end of the first round so we can win every world series until I die (which is hopefully not far away.)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Good, horsefeathers pitchers. Especially when it comes to drafting them in early rounds.

 

As long as he's the top prospect remaining on the board with no major injury red flags, I have no problem with drafting pitchers once you're this low in the draft. While the risk in pitchers is still there, the hitters are no longer anywhere close to the sure things they were higher in the draft.

[Cubswin11]

Good, horsefeathers pitchers. Especially when it comes to drafting them in early rounds.

 

As long as he's the top prospect remaining on the board with no major injury red flags, I have no problem with drafting pitchers once you're this low in the draft. While the risk in pitchers is still there, the hitters are no longer anywhere close to the sure things they were higher in the draft.

I was being a little hyperbolic and yeah agree generally. But hope we can find at least one bat with our 2 first picks and if there's a clear pitcher available who's the best pick available do it. But if it's close between a hitter and pitcher I hope they still lean hitter.

[craig]

Good, horsefeathers pitchers. Especially when it comes to drafting them in early rounds.

 

As long as he's the top prospect remaining on the board with no major injury red flags, I have no problem with drafting pitchers once you're this low in the draft. While the risk in pitchers is still there, the hitters are no longer anywhere close to the sure things they were higher in the draft.

 

Agree. The failure risk differential between players and pitchers no longer applies.

 

I'd be pretty happy if two pitchers were talented enough to justify our top two picks. I'd be curious to see what the development people could do with guys with enough talent and control to justify a first-round pick.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA put out an early top 10 mock draft: http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2017-mock-major-league-baseball-draft-first-ten-picks/#4FhXuRXUpcd5qksW.97

[Regular Show]

BA put out an early top 10 mock draft: http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2017-mock-major-league-baseball-draft-first-ten-picks/#4FhXuRXUpcd5qksW.97

 

Yeah I saw this earlier. Weird (to me at least) that they have J.B. Bukauskas going before A. Faedo. I like both pitchers, but I think once Faedo gets back to full strength he'll be the better pitching prospect. I'm worried that Bukauskas might end up only being a reliever (capable of being a dominant closer). Still, his mechanics are way better than C. Fulmer and he has more dominant stuff than S. Gray. I actually think he has a good changeup, too. We'll see what happens come draft time.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Potential top 10 pick:

 

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Apparently it's not his first suspension.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Also Keston Hiura is such a classic Cubs/Theo pick. Sounds like he won't fall to 27, though.

[texascub]

Potential top 10 pick:

 

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Apparently it's not his first suspension.

 

He seems to have attitude issues of some sort. He was suspended his first 2 starts of last season for conduct detrimental to the team. He made his start last Friday, but violated curfew during the trip to UCF and was only being moved to the bullpen. I wonder what he said/did after that to get suspended.

[OleMissCub]

Brent Rooker, a RS Junior OF for Mississippi State, is hitting .448/.558/1.008 with 15 HRs, 19 2Bs, 4 3B's, 56 RBI, and 14 steals in 33 games. He's having easily the best offensive season since the bat change to the BBCOR.

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Brent Rooker, a RS Junior OF for Mississippi State, is hitting .448/.558/1.008 with 15 HRs, 19 2Bs, 4 3B's, 56 RBI, and 14 steals in 33 games. He's having easily the best offensive season since the bat change to the BBCOR.

 

 

He's getting draft attention but he is older, so that'll hurt his draft stock:

 

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