$1.2M would be slot value for pick 60. Hard to know what Clifford’s asking price is but you have to think the Astros had it all worked out before drafting him.
If they didn’t that seems like a pretty big misfire. Someone said 1.5 and we aren’t particularly close to that but 1.25 is within range.
Astros first-round pick Drew Gilbert has signed, according to a club announcement. Callis reports (Twitter link) he’s landed a $2.5MM bonus, a little under the $2.62MM value of the 28th overall pick. .Forgive me if this has already been posted. On https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/houston-astros
Using Coles underslot at 52,000 and not including Gillis, I show $732,911 underslot. I know there's a little fudge room before penalties, but I don't know how severe the penalties would be if we had to exceed it.
$341,850 is the 5% overage that is just subject to a cash penalty. Anything beyond that forfeits picks which nobody is going to do.
Update 5: 7:30 AM, July 27 Bold - player has signed or intends to sign Name stricken through - player intends to return to school/attend college Round 1, Pick 28: Drew Gilbert, OF, Tennessee (JR); slot value $2,620,400 - signed for $2,500,000 ($121,700 below slot value) Round 2, Pick 64: Jacob Melton, OF, Oregon State (JR); slot value $1,103,600 - signed for $1,000,000 ($103,600 below slot value) Compensation Round 2, Pick 80: Andrew Taylor, RHP, Central Michigan (SOPH); $806,800 - signed for full slot value Round 3, Pick 103: Michael Knorr, RHP, Coastal Carolina (SR); $594,600 - signed for $487,500 ($107,100 under slot value) Round 4, Pick 133: Trey Dombroski, RHP, Monmouth (JR); $443,700 - signed for full slot value Round 5, Pick 163: Nolan DeVos, RHP, Davidson (JR); $331,400 - signed for $197,500 ($133,900 under slot value) Round 6, Pick 193: Collin Price, C, Mercer (SR); $257,500 - signed for $122,500 ($135,000 under slot value) Round 7, Pick 223: A.J. Blubaugh, RHP, Wisconsin-Milwaukee (JR); $202,700 - signed for $172,500 ($30,400 under slot value) Round 8, Pick 253: Tyler Guilfoil, RHP, Kentucky (SR); $173,200 - signed for $122,500 ($50,700 under slot value) Round 9, Pick 283: Brett Gillis, RHP, Portland (SR); $157,200 - signed for $97,500 ($59,700 below slot value) Round 10, Pick 313: Zach Cole, OF, Ball State (JR); $149,500 - signed for $97,500 ($52,000 under slot value) Round 11, Pick 343: Ryan Clifford, Crossroads FLEX High School (Cary, NC); committed to Vanderbilt Round 12, Pick 373: Zach Dezenzo, SS, Ohio State (SR); signed for $125,000 (max bonus for rounds 11-20 without being counted against pool) Round 13, Pick 403: Jackson Loftin, SS, Oral Roberts (JR); signed for $125,000 Round 14, Pick 433: Tommy Sacco, SS, TCU (5th-year SR) Round 15, Pick 463: Joe Mancini, RHP, Boston College (SR) Round 16, Pick 493: Tim Borden II, SS, Georgia Tech (SR) Round 17, Pick 523: Garrett McGowan, 1B, Pittsburg State (5th-year SR) Round 18, Pick 553: Isaiah Jackson, OF, Cienega High School (Vail, AZ); committed to Arizona State Round 19, Pick 583: John Garcia, C, Grambling State Round 20, Pick 613: Ryan Wrobleski, C, Dallas Baptist Bonus pool: $6,837,000 Pool money used: $6,048,000 Total pool remaining before penalties: $789,000 Undrafted free agents In the past, there were players who apparently signed as undrafted free agents with the Astros but never appeared on a roster of a minor league affiliate. Here are the undrafted players who have reportedly agreed to terms with the Astros. The $20,000 cap that had been in effect for the last two drafts has now been lifted. Teams can now sign undrafted free agents for up to $125K without having it count against their bonus pool once again. Logan VanWey, RHP, Missouri Southern State Austin Temple, RHP, Notre Dame
Tim Borden (16) has updated his Twitter page to include "Houston Astros Organization," so he's probably signing soon.
With Clifford AND Jackson this would be an A- grade draft. With just Clifford it’s a B+. With just Jackson it’s a B-. With neither I still think it’s a solid C+ draft.
If they fail to sign Clifford, could the Astros also go to any of the top undrafted HS Srs with their remaining bonus pool money (plus penalties) and offer a contract? I assume so, but I wasn't sure if there is some rule against it of which I'm unaware.
No, undrafted players cannot be offered more than $125k. If Clifford doesn’t sign the assumption is the leftover money will be offered to Jackson.
This. Basically the hope is that it is enough for Clifford to sign. “When you get to Day 3, some guys slip through the cracks,” Astros scouting director Kris Gross said. “I don’t know if we’re going to be able to come to terms with him. We’ll have discussions over the next couple of weeks, but we were drawn to the player himself.” “We’ve known [Clifford] for a while,” Gross said. “The bat is the calling card here. It’s a nice combination of a chance to hit and hit for power while profiling in right field or first base.” If he won't sign for 500-700K then the Astros will move on and make an over market offer to Jackson as a lottery ticket and hope it works. As for Clifford, I am optimistic he will sign because he really thinks highly of the Astros player development group. Clifford has basically been a professional for years. He did not attend a normal high school and he has been coached and taught by professionals for years. He is ready to begin his professional career and while his family isn't Bregman rich, they are solidly upper middle class and can help him if needed. A mainstay on U.S. national teams since he was 12, Clifford has the tools to be one of the better all-around hitters in the Draft. Clifford has a good left-handed swing that’s equipped to hit for power with an advanced approach at the plate. He can drive balls from gap to gap and rarely chases pitches outside of the zone. Scouts compare him to former Astros Draft pick Seth Beer, but with more athleticism. Clifford has told the Astros that he wants to sign, so lets hope the money is enough to quash the Vanderbilt commitment.
59,700 under slot. Final total they can offer is 794,100 plus the base 125,000 plus 341,850 for going over 5%. Hopefully 1,260,950 is enough for Clifford
That is in the ball park that they signed Barber and Whitaker for. I think that will probably be enough. Clifford would be going to one of the top 2-3 (if not the best) player development teams in baseball at 18 years old and be getting 1.2 million dollars, and it isn't as if he was a 1st rounder that fell. He was viewed as a second rounder by a lot of people and he is someone what locked in as a corner outfielder or 1st baseman.... so even with a solid few years at Vanderbilt, he may not have made much more money.
He should sign. But I say that about all baseball players that care a lot about playing in the majors and aren’t offered something insulting. It’s too hard a game to project. Take the money today. It might not be there tomorrow.
