Comments on: Yankees also signed NJ’s DeLuca

By: Chip

Chip — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:17:43 +0000

Boras was on WFAN today suggesting that baseball should do away with the draft and make all amateur players free agents just like the international players – which is the spin you would expect from Boras on this.

By: Bo Knows

Bo Knows — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:13:36 +0000

The other day SJ made the point that by holding back the signings the kids lose a year of development. Another estupid is that the kids don’t have medicals pre draft. So if a kid has medical problems the team doesn’t know about it until post draft.

By: Januz

Januz — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:36:09 +0000

Getting rid of the draft (Provided there was a ceiling and a floor) for all amateur signings, Say in the $5-$20m range, would bring prices down. I guarantee you no one would give Strasberg $15m out of $20m budget. On the other hand, it would force teams like the Blue Jays and Mets to spend money. In addition, if you had something like a “College Football National Signing Day”, you would increase interest in signings, and get players signed sooner. The only losers would be guys like Scott Boras, and UNPROVEN hyped players who get more money than established players.

By: DJ

DJ — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:00:47 +0000

The Yankees did a good job with the draft. They spent $6 million dollars and only went above slot with several guys. A high upside lefty who’s 18 is someone you want in your system. I hope to see this local product. Maybe I’ll check him out in Staten Island next year.

By: BDave 2.0

BDave 2.0 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:51:50 +0000

The Nationals “stole” Strasburg for only $15M.

If scouts are right, and he’s the best college pitching prospect in many years, if not ever, $15M is a bargain.

In order to be worth it, he’ll barely have to be a #3 starter by 2011.

Add to that the # of extra fans it will bring to that sorry franchise.

By: Chip

Chip — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:09:23 +0000

I don’t really think you can compare MLB penalizing teams for drafting above slotting to the BBWAA keeping players out of the Hall for steroid use – in the case of the Hall players know they are subject to the opinions of the voters and, right or wrong, the writers are entitled to the opinion that steroid users shouldn’t be in the hall – in the end I think it’s nonsense but I don’t get that vote.

By and large I think the draft is fine, I’m not for slotting but I do think that teams should be allowed to deal picks. Think about it, if the Nats didn’t want to sign Strasburg for 15 mil they could have dealt his rights to a team (just for argument sake) the Yankees for a package of guys like Austin Jackson etc…who could help their organization for lower cost.

While baseball will never institute a salary cap they should consider a salary floor – what teams like the Pirates have done is pathetic.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:37:44 +0000

In terms of PEDs, anything that is used without a prescription (if one is required) or is a controlled substance is illegal. You don’t need a baseball rule as well, although that is a good idea.

As far as the draft goes, it’s clearly a terrible system & any change would be an improvement. These would include extending the period under which a player’s rights belong to a team, allowing trades, and/or requiring a player to opt in or out of the draft as they do in football & basketball, with the opt-ins losing college eligibility if they get drafted. Unfortunately, that will have to be negotiated with the players’ union. The good news on the horizon — at least the Yankees passed on a number of apparently attractive draftees because their price was too high, mirroring the free agent season last winter. Maybe people will start thinking a bit more about what they want to do . . . .

By: bottom line--abolish the draft

bottom line--abolish the draft — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:31:20 +0000

“It is ridiculous to think that abolishing the draft would level the playing field in the MLB.”

The idea isn’t to “level the playing field” for weak competitors. THe idea is to reward good performance — or at least not penalize it. And to some degree, control salary inflation, which is exacerbated by the need of good teams to sign high-priced free agent talent to make up for their lack of high draft picks.

I’m not inflexible though. could be convinced of the virtue of a new draft format. One round only– give the weak sisters their first crack. But then after that first pick, open up everyone else to bidding. This gives the good teams a chance at some decent talent. But preserves the advantage of bad teams getting the very best talent.

By: The Phranchise

The Phranchise — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:31:03 +0000

Just watched the MLB video on the kid too. Nice compact pitching motion and not a lot of arm stress in his release. Looks like his mechanics are pretty solid and a good base to work from. Big kid if the weight is right.

By: The Phranchise

The Phranchise — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:28:23 +0000

From the Perfect Game website:

“Evan DeLuca is a 2009 LHP/OF with a 6’1”, 200 lb. frame from Whitehouse Station, NJ who attends Immaculata. Evan has a good strong pitchers build with outstanding presence on the mound. He gets good life on his fastball which topped out at 90mph at the Metrodome. He has good balance in his delivery and repeats well. He throws a nice change up with sink and fade and also shows good feel for his breaking stuff. He also threw 91 from the OF and showed athleticism by running a 7.05 sixty. Excellent 2009 LHP to follow very closely.”