The Astros could offer Gray #2 money and Bryant #3 money. And the Astros could let both know about the other offer.
nick (in) if you were in Jeff Luhnow's position, who would you take #1? Klaw (12:28 PM) Appel. Slot there is $7,790,400. Next pick is $6,708,400. There's no reason to offer him more than that second pick - and since he's a senior you might work out something for less. I'd see if he'd sign for $6 million flat, which would give the Astros $5,698,800 to spend on all their remaining picks - still more than seven other teams have for their entire bonus pools. John (Austin) Doesn't Gray project long term as a closer? And what the odds that Luhnow surprises again and pick someone other than Gray or Appel? Klaw (12:48 PM) He projects as an ace. You could read my scouting report on him - there are 60+ reports on the site already. http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/47998/mlb-insider-keith-law
Honestly, I think Bryant is the safest pick in this draft. We're so bad though that we need pitching over hitting and you can't go wrong with Gray or Appel.
Once again, take it for what it's worth... from poster ABTY7: "Hearing Bryant to the Astros is more than 60/40 at this point... Cubs FO is split on Appel and Gray; if Astros go Bryant and Cubs go Gray, Appel may drop as low as 7 but likely stops at Cleveland at 5... That said, 'Appel to Cubs' is already sounding a lot like 'Almora to the Cubs' did last year (i.e. just simply too dam.n much smoke to ignore)." http://forums.prosportsdaily.com/sh...-2013-1st-round-MLB-Draft-options-V2-0/page21 I assume if the Astros are in love with Bryant then they believe that he will be able to stick at 3rd or that he'll be able to play a good right field. He has legitimate 40 homer upside which is great, and supposedly scouts have less questions about contact now than they did before the season, but I still think he'll strike out a good amount. If they took him at number one, then they'd hopefully pop a high-upside pitcher at 40th overall.
Rough nights for the #1 candidate pitchers. Gray @ Kansas State: 6.1 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, BB, 3 K Appel @ Cal: 7 IP, 9 H (1 HR), 5 ER, BB, 11 K
Darn it. At this point, I wish one of them would step it up and clearly separate themselves from the other one.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>B4 going to Pitt. Sat. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Astros">#Astros</a> owner Jim Crane says he &GM Jeff Luhnow will c a player they r considering 4 the draft. Astros own top pick</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/335784063677898753">May 18, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Astros Jim Crane on visiting potential target for draft:"We've got a kid we're looking at today in Chapel Hill. I like to watch & observe."</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/335784190450757632">May 18, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Guess so. If they take him they better save A LOT of money for later picks. His bat is no where near Bryant's but at least he can really play 3rd. Maybe it's also for leverage to get a better deal for one of the top prospects.
sure hope it's this. i know i'm not a mlb gm, and anything that luhnow does is ok in my book, but doesn't there have to be a skill cutoff level where the money saved is distantly secondary? i don't care who they take with their 2nd pick...i wouldn't trade bryant, appel, or gray for moran and whoever the 2nd pick is.
More stuff from ABTY7..... "Appel 'nowhere near' the top of Houston's draft board... Astros have Gray still in the mix however most seem to believe they plan to take a position player at 1" "Hearing Gray is sending 'Appel 2012' like signals about his signability to certain clubs, the Rockies being one of them. At the same time, his people have let it be known he's willing to sign under slot for either of the top two slots, with Houston apparently being offered a rate that may make it impossible for them to pass... (heard closer to 3rd/4th pick slot money)" http://forums.prosportsdaily.com/sh...-2013-1st-round-MLB-Draft-options-V2-0/page23
A lot of scouts think Moran will have to move to 1st. Moran doesn't make a bunch of errors, but has limited range. His bat is very different from Bryants. Moran is a high average guy, while Bryant is a strong power bat. Moran could certainly develop above average power, but that isn't a given. Moran has some similarities to a young Jeff Bagwell.
Today's Ask BA: Discussing Gray and Appel, and teammate tandems I really like what the Astros did last year with saving money on No. 1 overall pick Carlos Correa so they could take Lance McCullers Jr. in the sandwich round and Rio Ruiz in the fourth. I know that No. 2 overall choice Byron Buxton has been exceptional for the Twins, but Correa was a reasonable top selection who allowed Houston to acquire extra pieces for its rebuilding process. Do you think the Astros will do the same thing again this year? I like the idea of saving at No. 1, but I also feel it’s foolish to take a player unworthy of the top pick just to reallocate money elsewhere. Dan Meyer Sioux Falls, S.D. Callis: When you’re as bad as the Astros, acquiring the best talent possible has to be your top priority. Multiple draft studies have shown that there’s a significant dropoff in value from the No. 1 to No. 2 overall picks, and again from Nos. 1-5 to Nos. 6-10. Last year’s draft was a perfect storm for Houston. Correa was a legitimate top-of-the-draft talent, ranked second on Baseball America’s board behind only Buxton. If the Astros didn’t take him at No. 1, the perception was that Correa would last until the Cubs at No. 6 or the Padres at No. 7. Thus it behooved for Correa to take a deal for $4.8 million, roughly halfway between Houston’s assigned pick value ($7.2 million) and San Diego’s ($3 million). Houston then poured that $2.4 million savings into increased bonuses for McCullers ($2.5 million) and Ruiz ($1.85 million). In essence, the Astros traded the Nos. 1, 41 and 129 choices (the actual slots where they drafted Correa, McCullers and Ruiz) for the Nos. 2, 12 and 23 selections (where their bonuses fit among 2012 draftees). That’s an upgrade, but it only makes sense if Houston doesn’t compromise on talent with the No. 1 pick. The Astros must zero in on the first tier of talent with the first choice, and I believe they will. In my mind, that top tier is limited to Gray, Appel and San Diego third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant. If Houston believes Gray, Appel and Bryant are roughly equal, then it should play them against each other and see if one of them will accept a larger discount. If the Astros think one player stands above all the rest, he should be their priority even if that means they can’t do as much damage with later selections. The worst mistake they could make would be to select someone outside the top tier of talent just to save more money to use elsewhere.
This is my biggest fear. Don't outsmart yourselves. Take who you think is the best player. This organization cannot afford a #1 pick bust. Please please please please do not pick solely on price. As it appears now, anything outside of Bryant, Appel, and Gray would be a huge reach.
At this point it looks like Buxton and whoever was a better deal than Correa, McCullers, and Ruiz. Ruiz is stinking it up. Buxton is putting up power and speed stats, he's also walking a lot. It's early but Buxton looks like a young Bonds.
