Outshined_One

Also, I'm kind of interested in the timing of this move. The Braves had a deal in place with one of their draft picks that would have cost them somewhere around $1m. However, reports were the Braves nixed the deal on Monday in order to pursue Aramis Ramirez. For whatever reason, no follow-up on that deal ever came about (i.e. whether the Braves backed off, had a trade in place for Ramirez that didn't happen, etc.). I wonder if the source got his information mixed up in terms of which Cub the Braves were pursuing? If the Braves were interested in getting Lee following this weekend's series with the Cardinals, the time line would match up.

He's not a Braves prospect, he's with the Reds. We could work out a separate deal for him, though. It'd be really difficult working out that trade, though. He's been doing pretty well for himself in the minors and will probably end up in LF next season. I get the feeling the Cubs might have to go dumpster-diving for a 1B.

That was by far one of the weirdest baseball articles I can remember reading. My worry with this deal is that the Cubs will attempt to replace Lee next season in-house. They might be able to get replacement-level production from some combination of Russ Canzler, Micah Hoffpauir, and Bryan LaHair, but quite honestly, with how mediocre the offense is, the Cubs are going to need a heck of a lot more than that from 1B to compete in 2011.

Box Scores Iowa lost 4-2 Box Score CF J. Adduci 1/2, BB, K, CS (8), Assist (3B) LF T. Wright 0/3, BB RF B. Snyder 1/4, RBI, 3 K DH M. Hoffpauir 0/4 C R. Chirinos 0/4 1B B. LaHair 1/4, 2B (28), 2 K 3B M. Smith 1/4, K SS M. Camp 0/2, BB, R, K 2B J. Mota 2/3, R, RBI, HR (1) SP A. Bibens-Dirkx 6 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 3/2 K/BB, 6-5 GO-FO RP J. Gray 2 scoreless, 2 H, 1/0 K/BB, 3-0 GO-FO Tennessee lost 7-6 in the 10th Box Score CF T. Campana 0/3, 3 BB, 2 R, K LF B. Guyer 2/5, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR (12), SB (22) 3B/1B R. Canzler 1/4, BB, 2 RBI, 2B (24), K RF M. Spencer 1/4, BB, R, K, Assist (2B) C S. Clevenger 1/5, 2 RBI, 2B (15), K 2B T. Thomas 1/4, K, HBP, SB (13) SS M. Gonzalez 1/4, BB, 2B (9), CS 4), PO (3B) PH B. Jackson 1/1, SB (14) SS N. Samson 0/1 SP C. Carpenter 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3/0 K/BB, WP, HBP, 14-4 GO-FO RP A. Shafer 1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1/0 K/BB, HR, 1-1 GO-FO RP L. Sommer 1+ IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO RP B. Parker 1 perfect, 1-0 GO-FO Daytona won 9-3 Box Score SS J. Lake 1/5, R, 2B (16), K 2B DJ LeMahieu 3/4, BB, 3 R, 2B (24) 3B R. Flaherty 4/5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B (28), HR (9) 1B R. Ridling 4/5, R, RBI, 2B (33) RF K. Burke 1/5, R, 2 RBI, 2B (28), K DH M. Brenly 1/5, R LF G. Rohan 2/5, RBI, 2B (4) CF E. Crawford 1/5, 2 K SP K. McNutt 6 scoreless, 1 H, 6/0 K/BB, 6-5 GO-FO RP C. Lambert 2 scoreless, 1 H, 4/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP O. Martinez 1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0/1 K/BB, HR, 1-1 GO-FO Peoria won 5-2 Box Score SS HJ Lee 1/4, BB, R, RBI, SB (31) 2B L. Watkins 3/4, BB, 2 RBI 3B M. Cerda 1/4, BB, 2B (17) 1B J. Bour 0/2, 3 BB, K RF JH Ha 0/5, 2 K LF N. Perez 2/4, BB, 2 R, RBI, HR (9), SB (2) DH B. May 0/3, BB, R, K CF A. Giansanti 2/3, BB, RBI, 2B (3) SP M. Hatley 2 scoreless, 2 H, 2/1 K/BB, 3-0 GO-FO RP N. Struck 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 9/0 K/BB, HR, WP, 3-3 GO-FO RP Y. Gonzalez 2 scoreless, 1 H, 4-2 GO-FO Boise won 4-1 Box Score 3B A. Alcantara 0/3, BB, 2 K 2B P. LePage 1/4 DH R. Jones 2/4, R, 2 RBI, HR (5), K LF J. Morelli 1/4, CS (4) 1B R. Cuneo 2/4, R, RBI, 2B (5), HR (2), K SS E. Soto 1/4, K C J. Vigurs 1/4, R, RBI, HR (1) RF C. Huseby 1/2, R CF KM Na 0/3, K SP A. Kirk 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3/0 K/BB, 7-4 GO-FO RP L. Suarez 3 scoreless, 2 H, 2/0 K/BB, 6-2 GO-FO RP A. Kurcz 1 scoreless, 0 H, 1/1 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO AZL Cubs lost 8-1 Box Score SS W. Darvill 1/4, R, K DH PC Chen 0/4, K 3B D. Geiger 0/3, HBP, 3 E (throw x 2, fielding) C C. Noble 1/4 2B V. Bieneme 0/2, 2 BB, 2 E (8, missed catch, fielding) SP T. Mitchell 1.2 scoreless, 0 H, 0/1 K/BB, 5-0 GO-FO RP D. Beeler 3.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2/0 K/BB, 3-4 GO-FO RP R. Hartman 1.2 IP, 0 H, 3 ER, 1/3 K/BB, 2-2 GO-FO RP C. Hams 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2/1 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP C. Richardson 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3/0 K/BB DSL Cubs lost 3-1 Box Score SS G. Amaya 1/4, CS (8) 2B M. Hernandez 0/3, BB, K CF O. Zapata 2/4, R, SB (18) RF D. Arcila 1/4, RBI, 2 K, CS (3) DSL Cubs 2 won 3-2 in the 11th Box Score 3B W. Contreras 1/5, R, E (14, fielding) RF/1B G. Jimenez 1/4 2B J. Rodriguez 2/4, BB, R, RBI, 2B (5), SB (11) LF J. Casilla 2/4, R, 2B (3), SB (12), Assist (2B) SP J. Castro 2 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, 3-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 4-4

Shocker. Another rainout for Daytona!

Here are some details that might help. Biz of Baseball also had some useful information. So, it seems about half of the deal was financed with borrowed money, which isn't uncommon. The Ricketts family has debt to pay down, but whether or not they can afford it is unknown at this time.

Andy Seiler was tabulating bonus numbers last night. From the looks of it, he was basically adding up the numbers on BA's advanced draft database, which lists the various disclosed signing bonuses. His number for the Cubs didn't include Szczur, for what it's worth.

I think it's been something in the $5m-$6m range in the past, although this year's numbers might be skewed. Focusing on publicly disclosed bonuses, teams on the high end spent a bit more than usual (Nationals, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Pirates all at or above $10m), while there were a number of teams that spent a lot less than usual (Brewers at $2m; Twins, Padres, Cubs, White Sox, Braves, Marlins, Mets, and Phillies all around or below $4m). Since Wilken took over, they've spent 19th most on draft bonuses. This year will probably slide them down a bit. While those bonus figures don't include guys who received below a certain signing bonus amount (can't remember the exact numbers), I think you can figure those numbers cancel each other out team by team when comparing those teams. For example, while the Brewers signed more players than the Cubs (34 versus 29), it would be a really safe bet to say those extra five players will not cause the Brewers to spend more on this year's draft than the Cubs. The Cubs provided the list of deadline signings. There's a remote possibility someone signed without it being reported, but considering Carrie Muskat was the one who reported on the signings of Rhoderick, Harman, and Smith, I sincerely doubt it.

Barret Loux will be a free agent on September 1st.

BA lists Rhoderick's signing bonus as $110,000. What in the heck was the holdup with them announcing this deal? :-s

Those numbers are total signing bonuses based on official announcements (BA, subscription only). Andy Seiler's been keeping track of them on Twitter. If you add up all of the announced signing bonuses for the Cubs, you get $3,836,000 (assuming Szczur commits to baseball). That number will likely be somewhere over $4m once signing bonus info on Rhoderick, Harman, and Smith comes out. Overall draft budgets would be much harder to figure out since teams rarely disclose terms for draftees (save for major league contracts). Signing bonuses are a pretty good measuring stick for how teams spent in the draft, given that lack of publicly available information.

Box Scores Iowa lost 5-4 Box Score CF S. Fuld 0/4, BB LF J. Adduci 1/4, R, 3 K, HBP RF B. Snyder 1/3, 2 BB, K, CS (3) 1B M. Hoffpauir 2/4, RBI, K 2B B. Scales 1/4, 2B (27), K DH B. LaHair 0/2, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 K 3B M. Smith 2/4, R, 2 RBI, HR (11), E (14, fielding) C C. Robinson 1/4, RBI, K SS M. Camp 0/3, K, E (14, fielding) SP J. Jackson 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5/2 K/BB, HR, 0-11 GO-FO RP J. Muyco 1.1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP J. Stevens 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO Daytona PPD: Rain Boise lost 7-1 Box Score 2B A. Alcantara 0/4, 2 K DH P. LePage 1/4, R 1B R. Jones 2/3, BB, K, E (5, missed catch) LF J. Morelli 0/3, RBI, E (3, fielding) 3B D. Harrington 0/4, 3 K SS E. Soto 0/3 C M. Gibbs 2/3, 2B (2) CF KM Na 0/3, K SP M. Loosen 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3/1 K/BB, 8-1 GO-FO RP E. Figueroa 3.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2/2 K/BB, WP, 4-3 GO-FO AZL Cubs PPD DSL Cubs 1 won a 6 inning rain-shortened game 8-6 Box Score SS G. Amaya 2/3, BB, 2 R, RBI, K, SB (16) 2B M. Hernandez 0/2, BB, K RF D. Arcila 2/3, 3 RBI, K SP A. Paulino 3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1/1 K/BB, WP, HBP, 1-4 GO-FO RP R. Diplan 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0/2 K/BB, HBP, 3-3 GO-FO DSL Cubs 2 won 6-1 Box Score 3B W. Contreras 2/4, 2 R, K, E (13, fielding) 1B G. Jimenez 0/4, RBI 2B J. Rodriguez 1/4, R, RBI LF J. Casilla 1/4, R, RBI, HR (4), 2 K SP G. Abreu 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1/4 K/BB, 3-1 GO-FO Tennessee and Peoria with an off day OVERALL: 2-2

It's not a big surprise. The Cubs didn't have an awful lot of potential overslots and it looked like Brooks Pinckard, Bryan Harper and Clayton Crum weren't even on the radar. They got Wells and didn't get Stites. This was an underwhelming draft from the get-go. Despite making selections on the cheap, the Cubs decided to tighten up even more when it came to signings. Didn't they save a few million in the Ted Lilly deal? Didn't the Ricketts promise to follow the Boston Red Sox model? I mean, for heaven's sake, the Red Sox are currently sitting at $11m in signing bonuses. They'll probably more than triple what the Cubs spent when all is said and done. Where is the money for draft spending that was promised? $3.5m as a draft budget is a complete and total joke for a major market team like the Cubs. That's only $300k more than the signing bonus the Cardinals gave to their first rounder. Tim Wilken has had prior success, but for heaven's sake, give the man a draft budget that allows him to get more than a bunch of reaches, guys with depressed stocks, late pop-up prospects, and organizational filler. Yeah, he finds diamonds in the rough, that's great, but there are still plenty of potentially high-level talent players who are well-known and will cost money to sign. I really do not think this is a sustainable method of building and maintaining a farm system. At least last year they had the excuse of the sale as the reason for the $4m budget. What the hell is the excuse this year?

I'll go ahead and say it. What a [expletive] disappointment.

Add Rhoderick, Harman, and Smith to the signees.

Assuming no other big signings are announced any time soon... -The Nationals take home the title of biggest spenders, with $11.5m in bonuses handed out. -Despite spending $6.5m in signing bonuses, the Yankees are last in the AL East in signing bonus amounts. -The Padres, White Sox, Braves, Phillies...and Cubs all come in at or below $4m.

Parker signed with the Rockies. Kind of a lull going on right now, with everyone dissecting the first round signings. There should be a decent number of late round signings and news about the ones who got away trickling out over the next hour or so.

Harper's officially signed. MLB contract worth about $10m with a $6.25m bonus.

Padres didn't sign Karsten Whitson. Wow. Following up on Covey, apparently he went in for his physical and was diagnosed as having Type 1 diabetes. His family decided it would be best to manage his illness close to home in college, rather than having him away from home and dealing with it.

Cardinals sign their first rounder, Zach Cox (who was being an idiot in negotiations, from all accounts), but did not get Austin Wilson. Whew.

MLBTR has Harper signed, probably around $6.5m; not official yet. Zach Lee reportedly gets $5.25m over 5 years. He's gone from LSU.

Here comes the flood. Machado, Harvey, and Castellanos all confirmed.

Zach Lee officially signs. Details unconfirmed. Drew Pomeranz also signs. Ditto Christian Yelich. Harper supposedly is close, but he won't be officially announced until later. Aside from Lee and Covey, pretty much going as expected so far...

What was the slot value of that pick? Probably somewhere around $800k-$900k. The guy ahead of him signed for below slot at $600k, plus the pick is unprotected, so it's a bit hard to judge.

Ben Wells signs with a $530,000 signing bonus.