<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/astros">@Astros</a> just announced signing of 4th-rder Daniel Mengden. Texas A&M RHP, FB to 94, good slider, competes well. <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBDraft">@MLBDraft</a></p>— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/statuses/482558571394392064">June 27, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Bold - signed/will sign/reportedly agreed to terms Italics - will not sign/has indicated that he will not sign Round 1: Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic High School, San Diego (committed to UCLA); has reportedly agreed to a deal with a $6,500,000 bonus, which would be $1,422,100 under the slot recommendation. Competitive Balance Round A: Derek Fisher, OF, Virginia (JR); signed for $1,534,100 (slot recommendation) Round 2: A.J. Reed, 1B, Kentucky (JR) ; signed for $1,350,000 (slot recommendation) Round 3: J.D. Davis, 3B, Cal State Fullerton (JR); signed for $748,600 (slot), will report to Tri-City Round 4: Daniel Mengden, RHP, Texas A&M (JR); signed for $470,000 ($24,800 below slot) Round 5: Jacob Nix, RHP, Los Alamitos High School, Los Alamitos, California (committed to UCLA); terms could include a $1,500,000 bonus ($1,129,500 over slot) Round 6: Brock Dykxhoorn, RHP, Central Arizona College (JUCO SOPH); signed for $250,000 ($27,400 below slot) Round 7: Derick Velazquez, RHP, Fresno State (JR); expecting to go to Tri-City after he signs; signed for $207,800 (slot recommendation) Round 8: Bobby Boyd, CF, West Virginia (JR); expected to report to Tri-City, signed for $140,000 ($22,800 under slot) Round 9: Bryan Radziewski, LHP, Miami (redshirt JR; listed as a senior); signed for $125,000 ($27,000 under slot), to Tri-City Round 10: Jay Gause, RHP, Faulkner (JR); story, signed for $65,000 ($77,100 under slot) Round 11: Dean Deetz, RHP, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (JUCO SOPH; technically a redshirt freshman) Round 12: Ryan Bottger, LF, University of Texas-Arlington (JR); on preliminary Tri-City roster Round 13: Jamie Ritchie, C, Belmont (JR); on preliminary Tri-City roster Round 14: Nick Tanielu, 2B, Washington State (JR); signed for $200,000 ($100,000 above slot for draft picks in rounds 11-40) Round 15: Connor Goedert, 3B, Neosho County CC (Kansas) (JUCO SOPH) Round 16: Ramon Laureano, LF, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (JUCO SOPH) Round 17: Ben Smith, LHP, Coastal Carolina (JR) Round 18: Antonio Nuñez, SS, Western Oklahoma State College (JUCO SOPH) Round 19: Ruben Castro, C, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy & High School Round 20: Trent Woodward, C, Fresno State (SR) Round 21: Mac Marshall, LHP, Parkview High School, Lilburn, Georgia (committed to LSU) Round 22: Bryan Muniz, 1B, Southeastern (Florida) (JR); not to be confused with J.D. Martinez's alma mater, Nova Southeastern University Round 23: Ryan Thompson, RHP, Campbell (SR) Round 24: Vince Wheeland, RHP, Oklahoma State (SR) Round 25: Zach Davis, LHP, Central Missouri (SR) Round 26: Mott Hyde, 2B, Georgia Tech (SR) Round 27: Brandon McNitt, RHP, Stony Brook (SR) Round 28: Aaron Greenwood, RHP, Ole Miss (SR) Round 29: Richard Gonzalez, C, Alabama State (JR) Round 30: Sean McMullen, OF, LSU (SR); to Greeneville Round 31: Dexture McCall, 1B, Hillsborough Community College (Florida) (JUCO SOPH) Round 32: Robert Kahana, RHP, Kansas (JR) Round 33: Edwin Medina, OF, University of St. Thomas (Miami) (JR) Round 34: Joshua James, RHP, Western Oklahoma State College (JUCO SOPH) Round 35: Keegan Yuhl, RHP, Concordia University (Irvine, California) (SR) Round 36: Justin Ferrell, RHP, Connors State College (Oklahoma) (JUCO SOPH) Round 37: Eric Peterson, RHP, North Carolina State (JR) Round 38: Michael Foster, 2B, Northeastern (JR) Round 39: Brad Antchak, SS, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (JUCO FR) Round 40: Alex Hernandez, 2B, Miami (SR) Undrafted Free Agents Aaron Vaughn, RHP, Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) Dayne Parker, IF, Wichita State Kyle Gehrs, LHP, Central Missouri John Gatlin, IF, Ole Miss (converting to pitcher)
After the mathematics, the Astros have spent $11,456,400 of the bonus pool. Nick Tanielu signed for $200,000 as a 14th-round pick, so $100,000 is deducted from the pool. The Astros have $1,905,800 remaining in their pool. I'm just going to assume that Derek Fisher will sign for slot ($1,534,100), which will leave $371,700 in the pool.
On the pregame radio show the other day, Luhnow said there wasn't any news on Aiken. Not sure what the deal is, if he landed here to sign...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Daniel Mengden signing, plus scouting director Mike Elias on unsigned pitchers Aiken, Jacob Nix, Mac Marshall <a href="http://t.co/nagHu1gaId">http://t.co/nagHu1gaId</a></p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/statuses/482724624887590912">June 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> The Astros have signed 35 of their 41 picks. Astros scouting director Mike Elias detailed progress with some of those who haven’t signed, including the team’s top two picks at Nos. 1 and 37. Elias said his first overall selection, Aiken, could be introduced this homestand, but didn’t make it sound probable. “It’s possible that it could,” Elias said. “I wouldn’t say that I expect it to happen then. We’re still working on that and those are long, complex talks usually with picks that are that high, especially a high school player.” The Astros’ 37th overall pick, outfielder Derek Fisher, is more likely to sign this homestand. “I think it’s possible,” Elias said. Fifth round high school pitcher Jacob Nix (a UCLA commit) isn’t about to sign, it seems. Neither is 21st rounder Mac Marshall (LSU), another high school pitcher. “I don’t see it going down to the wire to speak,” Elias said of Nix. “But it’s not something that I think is imminent. “I’m still talking to Mac Marshall and hopeful that we can potentially convince him to turn pro, but that’s going to be a tough one. He was a little later pick and he’s got a very well known, strong commitment that to this point he intends on honoring.” Elias said he’s not having ongoing conversations with Marshall, but that the lines were open. “It’s certainly something that maybe as the deadline nears will intensify,” Elias said.
What's the holdup on Aiken? Well... Ken Rosenthal is, uh... insinuating (I'm not even sure that's the right word to use here) that Brady Aiken may have failed his physical. He's the first one to suggest such a thing, and the timing of this is certainly surprising. ASTROS’ AIKEN: WHAT’S THE DEAL? According to reports, high-school left-hander Brady Aiken arrived in Houston last Monday, indicating that he and the Astros were close to an agreement. A week later, however, the team has yet to announce a deal with Aiken, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. And neither side is saying why. The holdup bears a resemblance to the delays that occasionally occur in free agency when players fail physicals and teams try to rework deals. If indeed Aiken failed his physical, the Astros would have the right to offer him 40 percent of his signing bonus value, according to the new draft rules that were negotiated into the collective bargaining agreement in 2011. The signing bonus value for the No. 1 overall pick is $7,922,100. Forty percent of that would be $3,168,840. (The Astros, according to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, have agreed to a $6.5 million bonus for Aiken). If the Astros failed to make the adjusted offer, Aiken would become a free agent. If they made the offer and Aiken rejected it, he could re-enter the draft in 2015 or enroll in a four-year college and become draft-eligible again after his junior year. Again, only the parties involved know if Aiken actually failed his physical. The best guess is that he will still join the Astros. The deadline for him to sign is July 18.
So if there were no reports that Aiken was arriving in Houston last week, there would be zero speculation of "whats going on" as the deadline is July 18th. Here we see Rosenthal basing his out of the blue theory on unverified reports that Aiken was close to signing?!?!?!.... and the media wonders why teams try to give them as little info as possible.
I hope it's nothing serious, but I have been curious as to why he hasn't been signed yet. I know it's a long shot, but if he failed his physical and got the 40% bonus, that'd leave tons of money to throw at Marshall.
except that Lunhow commented when directly asked about Aiken's arrival that while he wouldn't discuss the deal, generally speaking with respect to draft picks coming to houston, that means a deal is close.
In this purely hypothetical situation created based on irresponsible speculation by Rosenthal... The sticking point is that Aiken has the right to refuse the bonus and re-enter the draft next year. Somebody should just ask Luhnow or Elias if he failed his physical as a reason for the delay. If they flat out say "no, that's not true", it will put an end to this rumor really fast.
The holdup is Fisher. Once Fisher signs Aiken will sign as well. Taking with him all the leftover pool money. Thats my theory anyways.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>More on <a href="https://twitter.com/astros">@Astros</a> & Derek Fisher: Bonus is $1,534,100. Full pick value at 37. Comp balance pick from <a href="https://twitter.com/Orioles">@Orioles</a> in Bud Norris deal. <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBDraft">@MLBDraft</a></p>— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/statuses/484050073878540290">July 1, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
So, hypothetically, if Aiken doesn't sign, and we finish in last place, we get the 1st and 2nd picks next year, and we get #2 pick slot money added to our bonus pool? Is that correct?
They also haven't formally signed Jacob Nix. I'm assuming the reason being that they were using the savings from Brady Aiken's deal. If Aiken doesn't sign, our agreed upon deal with Nix can't be signed without losing a 1st round pick.
Pretty sure we do. We get the #2 pick as compensation for not signing Aiken and we still get whatever our own pick is, likely the #1 pick.
If Aiken doesn't sign, that's a huge fail.... what, are they just going to draft him next year again???
I was referring more to how that effects our bonus pool. That #2 pick would be in one unprecedented world of leverage, that's for sure. A good spot to avoid the hell out of a Boras client, I'd say.
