Draft - Baseball Wiretap

MLBPA Rejects League's International Draft Proposal

Jul 26, 2022 7:27 AM

The Major League Baseball Players Association rejected MLB's last proposal on an international draft on Monday, the deadline for both sides to reach agreement.

The absence of a draft means the qualifying-offer system and the international signing period will each remain as is.

The two sides exchanged a total of four proposals this month, including two last weekend, and were consistently far apart on the amount of money that would be guaranteed to future international amateur players.

The gap reportedly never got closer than $69 million.

Alden Gonzalez/ESPN

Tags: Draft, Misc Rumor

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MLB Counters With Final International Draft Offer

Jul 25, 2022 12:51 AM

With a deadline looming, MLB on Sunday submitted what was billed as a final offer regarding an international draft, sources told ESPN.

The league increased the amount of money that would be guaranteed to the top 600 international players by $10 million, going from $181 million to $191 million, sources said. But the two sides remain very far apart, and the prospect of a deal seems unlikely.

It is unclear whether the MLB Players Association would submit another counter Monday, or whether the union would take MLB's latest offer seriously enough to submit it to a vote among its player leadership.

ESPN.com

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Orioles Give No. 1 Pick Jackson Holliday Record Deal

Jul 22, 2022 9:01 AM

The Baltimore Orioles came to terms with No. 1 pick Jackson Holliday on Thursday, according to a source.

Holliday will receive a record bonus for a high school player.

The deal is worth $8.19 million, just under the slot value for the top pick at $8,846,900. The club has not confirmed the agreement, which is pending a physical.

Zachary Silver/MLB

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Draft, Misc Rumor, Signing, Terms Agreement

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Orioles Draft Seven-Footer, Would Be Tallest Player Ever

Jul 20, 2022 7:59 AM

The Baltimore Orioles drafted Jared Beck from Saint Leo University with the first pick of the 13th round on Tuesday.

Beck, a seven-foot left-hander, would be the tallest player in Major League history.

He struck out 105 batters in 68 1/3 innings for Division II Saint Leo this season, posting a 3.95 ERA. He's also pitched summer ball for the Savannah Bananas.

"Jared's a really interesting case," Orioles draft director Brad Ciolek said. "Obviously, he's a little bit of a bigger guy, and that might take a little bit more, I guess, in terms of delivery, refining his mechanics. But we have faith in our player-development staff, our pitching coaches, that they'll be able to get the most out of his ability."

Associated Press

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Draft, Misc Rumor

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Jackson Holliday, Druw Jones Reach Contract Agreements

Jul 19, 2022 9:03 AM

The first two picks in Major League Baseball's 2022 draft, Jackson Holliday and Druw Jones, have agreements in place with their respective clubs, according to a report.

Both players are expected to receive signing bonuses that exceed $8 million. They are also both represented by Scott Boras.

Holliday, a prep shortstop from Oklahoma and the son of former All-Star Matt Holliday, was selected No. 1 by the Baltimore Orioles.

Jones, a prep outfielder from Georgia and the son of Andruw Jones, was chosen No. 2 by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ronald Blum/Associated Press

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, Draft, Misc Rumor, Terms Agreement

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Cubs Draft Mark McGwire's Son In Eighth Round

Jul 19, 2022 8:34 AM

The Chicago Cubs drafted Mason McGwire, son of 12-time All-Star Mark McGwire, in the eight round on Monday.

Mason, a right-handed pitcher out of Capistrano Valley High School in California, is committed to the University of Oklahoma, where his 19-year-old brother Max is an infielder.

There's no indication yet if Mason plans to turn pro, but teams seldom use picks in the top 10 rounds on players they think are unsignable.

Associated Press

Tags: St. Louis Cardinals, Draft, Misc Rumor

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2022 MLB Draft, First Round Results

Jul 18, 2022 8:20 AM

The three-day Major League Baseball draft kicked off on Sunday, with the first round completed.

The Los Angeles Dodgers didn't have a first-round pick, but the New York Mets had two thanks to a compensatory pick awarded for not signing Kumar Rocker in 2021.

Here is a summary of the first round:

  1. Baltimore Orioles: Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater High School (OK)
  2. Arizona Diamondbacks: Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan High School (GA)
  3. Texas Rangers: Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt (played in independent Frontier League in 2021)
  4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Termarr Johnson, SS, Benjamin E. Mays High School (GA)
  5. Washington Nationals: Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy (FL)
  6. Miami Marlins: Jacob Berry, 3B/OF, LSU
  7. Chicago Cubs: Cade Horton, RHP, University of Oklahoma
  8. Minnesota Twins: Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly
  9. Kansas City Royals: Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech
  10. Colorado Rockies: Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga
  11. New York Mets: Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech
  12. Detroit Tigers: Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech
  13. Los Angeles Angels: Zach Neto, SS, Campbell University
  14. New York Mets: Jett Williams, SS/OF, Rockwall-Heath High School (TX)
  15. San Diego Padres: Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford High School (GA)
  16. Cleveland Guardians: Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison University
  17. Philadelphia Phillies: Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman High School (NV)
  18. Cincinnati Reds: Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola JC (FL)
  19. Oakland Athletics: Daniel Susac, C, University of Arizona
  20. Atlanta Braves: Owen Murphy, RHP, Riverside-Brookfield High School (IL)
  21. Seattle Mariners: Cole Young, SS, North Allegheny High School (PA)
  22. St. Louis Cardinals: Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon State University
  23. Toronto Blue Jays: Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage High School (FL)
  24. Boston Red Sox: Mikey Romero, SS, Orange Lutheran High School (CA)
  25. New York Yankees: Spencer Jones, OF, Vanderbilt University
  26. Chicago White Sox: Noah Schultz, LHP, Oswego East High School (IL)
  27. Milwaukee Brewers: Eric Brown Jr., SS, Coastal Carolina University
  28. Houston Astros: Drew Gilbert, OF, University of Tennessee
  29. Tampa Bay Rays: Xavier Isaac, 1B, East Forsyth High School (NC)
  30. San Francisco Giants: Reggie Crawford, LHP/1B, University of Connecticut

Mark Polishuk/MLB Trade Rumors

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor

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Orioles Take Jackson Holiday With No. 1 Overall Draft Pick

Jul 18, 2022 12:56 AM

The Baltimore Orioles made high school shortstop Jackson Holliday the first selection in Major League Baseball's draft on Sunday, but the biggest shock came with the No. 3 overall pick, as the Texas Rangers selected Kumar Rocker, the highly touted pitching prospect who famously did not sign with the New York Mets last season.

Rocker now joins his former Vanderbilt teammate Jack Leiter, who was picked second overall by the Rangers last year.

Druw Jones, the son of five-time All-Star Andruw Jones, went second overall on Sunday to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

ESPN.com

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Draft

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Braves Send Three Players To Royals For No. 35 Pick

Jul 11, 2022 12:56 PM

The Atlanta Braves have traded three players to the Kansas City Royals for the 35th pick in Sunday's Major League Baseball draft.

Kansas City received center-field prospect Drew Waters, right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Hoffmann and Double-A third baseman CJ Alexander in the deal.

The draft choice, which is tradable because it is a competitive-balance pick given to small-market and low-revenue teams, comes with a slot value of $2,202,100.

Jeff Passan/ESPN

Tags: Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, Draft, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Kumar Rocker, Draft-Eligible Again, Had Shoulder Surgery In September

Jul 3, 2022 12:27 AM

Former Vanderbilt star Kumar Rocker underwent shoulder surgery in September, receiving what his agent called "a minor scope" on his right arm, sources familiar with the procedure told ESPN.

Rocker, the 10th overall pick in the 2021 draft, did not sign with the Mets after the team balked at the condition of his pitching arm. Now 22 and again draft-eligible, Rocker has steadily climbed teams' boards over the past month after regularly hitting 98 mph with his fastball in a dominant five-game stint with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Frontier League.

"We have a very clear understanding, after a minor scope, of Kumar's medically documented health, which has allowed him to perform at the highest levels," said Scott Boras, Rocker's agent.

ESPN.com

Tags: Draft, Misc Rumor

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