davell

Yep.

I asked Chris Crawford of MLBDraftInsider if 300/375/475 and 20/20 was too unrealistic for Almora's prime and he said no, not at all. Kiley McDaniel has thrown out Beltran as a comp and KG and Law both like him more than Baez. Kind of hard not to be excited on some level.

Dynamite drop in.

My guess is the Pirates just decided they're the team that's taking the penalties this year.

Piliere said earlier today that Almora will get consideration for his top 25.

If they had an unlimited budget again this year I think you take Giolito at 6 if he's there. Yeah, I think we would have went with Giolito. Don't think Appel would have been there if rules hadn't changed.

I do. Probably 2.8ish or so.

Tim, I gotta admit now I feel more comfortable with Almora than I would have Buxton.

It's the right call, since Appel's going to want crazy money, I guess.

Boras knows what he's doing. That's all I know.

KC supposedly doesn't like Appel. He's already screwed himself price-wise. Do you take the chance?

Good for the Astros. I like Almora a ton, but damn.....Appel?

Pitching, pitching, pitching. Hre's your HS pitching Extreme Longshot- Zach Eflin Longshots- Matt Smoral, Lucas Sims, Walker Weickel, Hunter Virant Picked during our vicinity- Nick Travieso, Shane Watson, Ty Buttrey, Mitch Brown, Walker Buehler, Paul Blackburn, Kyle Twomey, Edwin Diaz Others worth looking at- Chase DeJong, Duane Underwood, Mitch Gueller, Tyler Pike, Kieran Lovegrove, Cody Poteet College Extreme Longshots-Brian Johnson Longshots- Pierce Johnson, Alex Wood Picked in our vicinity- Chris Beck, Pat Light, Brandon Kline Others worth looking at- Sam Selman, Brett Mooneyham, Martin Agosta, Buck Farmer Didn't include relief pitchers or differentiate between RHP and LHP. But this is basically the group of guys I'm looking at. Left out a couple of soft tossing guys as well, just looked at BA's list real quick and jotted down guys I remember liking something about anyway.

I like Kuo and I like the move. My guess is he's a very fast mover, just have to hope like hell you can kerp him healthy.

I'm much more interested in 43 and 56, than I am in 6. We're going to get one of 8-9 guys(Giolito, I guess is POSSIBLE anyway) at 6 and all of them are fine picks. What I'm hoping for is for some serious talent to fall to us at 43 and 56. That's what has the chance to really amp our system up.

Just mean, in Nash's case, he loves it where he is, and is going to have to really buy into us being able to win a championship, for him to leave where he's at, and take less money as well, to do it. That's one hell of a sell job when he doesn't know what kind of condition Rose will be in when he comes back. Especially when you have Miami starting Mario Chalmers and OKC playing Derek Fisher 20 mins/game. Can't argue that at all.

Just mean, in Nash's case, he loves it where he is, and is going to have to really buy into us being able to win a championship, for him to leave where he's at, and take less money as well, to do it.

I think it's possible. If he falls to 9 or 10, as quite a few projections have him at, slot is 2.8 and 2.7 mill. And then, you may be stuck trying your damndest to get them to come UP an extra 200K or so. I'd offer him 3 mill, save 250K off of slot and my guess is he'd bite, because it's more than he'd get if goes a little lower.

It requires a TON of begging and hoping he's a ring chaser, basically. BTW, I wouldn't think it's an either/or situation when it comes to the PG's and Young/Delfino. I think it's probably a situation where they'd like to add both. Again, by begging and playing up the "we're a contender" card. Personally, I don't see it working, but I guess I'm glad they're going to try.

I like those guys a lot if we have an pre-draft underslot deal with Almora. But if Theo gets lucky and Buxton or Correa drops, I don't think we will have enough room under the cap to take those overslots (Smoral would be a big overslot at 43). So I am hoping Theo takes Correa or Buxton at 6 and a Puerto Rican P or Mooneyham (all of which seem like they will take an underslot deal). Really I hope they take Giolito with the first pick, and then offer him below slot until he starts pitching like a future ace again. That way the Cub's either get a front line starter (with impact potential) or they get a high pick (+$) in next year's deeper draft. I think that is the best outcome, but I doubt Theo wants to come out of his first draft telling fans "just wait until next year". And while I am putting all of my draft hopes here... I really, really want Chase Mullins. The Cubs need an uber-projectable lefty in their system. Got to remember slot value is much higher than in the past. If someone like Smoral falls and hypothetically wants 2 mill to sign, it's only 800K over our 43rd picks slot value. Throw in the 5% penalty money and we're only off by 400K or so. Which could be made up by taking a college senior and giving them 40% of slot in the 4th, 5th, and 10th rounds basically. It'd even leave us to take slot guys with our 56, 67, and 101st picks.

If we do take a position guy at 6, I am going to be hoping like hell we have some pitching fall to us at 43 and 56. Smoral, Weickel, or Sims would be a great gift.

I've not seen anything substantial on it, but I would think it could be a stand alone trade piece. Jeff Baker to whoever for 250k IFA money. Whatever the case is though, my guess is we'll target the teams who typically don't spend over there and get the max amount we can wind up with.

Piliere said Royals looking at Almora and Fried at 5.

Callis says Astros have NOT decided on top pick and are deciding between 5 guys. Appel, Gausman, Buxton, Correa, and probably Almora.

That's best case scenario for us. Minnesota is a wildcard. if they don't take Buxton, it's likely Seattle would. Perfect pick for us is for Minnesota to take Zunino. May not be likely, but definitely possible. I like Almora a lot, but if Correa is available as well and we pass, I'll be a bit disappointed, even with our guys, who I certainly trust.