Per Baseball America, Astros have signed four more draftees:
They’ll probably need Janek finalized before any more over-slot guys (Powell, maybe McGary) can be signed. Not much more room until then.
Not necessarily surprised about Verdugo. He was committed to Kentucky out of the transfer portal - i.e. he had a good option and some leverage.
I’m assuming Janek and Forcucci are going to be slot deals. Maybe the Astros can convince the latter to go under because of his TJS and sign Smith to deal more akin to his predraft ranking. Hopefully, that’s enough to sign Powell.
As much as I’d love to sign McGary, if for no other reason than to keep him away from tempe normal, he strikes me as the proverbial “let’s at least have a conversation” pick - i.e. a miracle.
Add 13th rounder Bryce Boettcher to the list of signings.
Astros have reportedly signed fourth-rounder Parker Smith, the RHP from Rice. Bonus is $450k, about $90k below slot.
Astros have also reportedly signed Jagger Beck, a high school RHP from California, as an undrafted free agent. Not ranked on public boards. I think I saw at least one other team having landed a high schooler as a UDFA this year, but it’s rare to see. Obviously the kind of thing that’ll happen more with a 20-round draft vs when it was 40 rounds (or longer).
https://x.com/sutterbaseball/status/1816682212491993351?s=46
That’s certainly opposite ends of the performer spectrum right there.
Wow, not nearly the deal I was expecting. Barring anything crazy with Janek and Forcucci, which I doubt, the Astros must be very confident with whatever number/offer they have with Powell and that it’s not going to be a massively over slot deal. I also think this means they’re not signing McGary.
Janek just signed for full slot. Unless they’re getting Forcucci at a big discount, I agree, probably just Powell.
The plot thickens…
And thickens further. Ari Alexander reports Forcucci is signing for $997,500, which is about $270k over slot. So Powell has to come in significantly underslot for all this to work.
The last Undrafted High School pitcher I can remember the Astros signing was Rubin “R.J.” Alaniz who signed in 2010 out of a tryout camp. He made it to AA with the Astros but stuck with it and finally got a few cups of coffee with the M’s and Reds in 19 and 21. Still pitching in the Mexican League at age 33.
My understanding is Beck was committed to U of Hawaii but was more interested in playing pro ball than going to college.
He did play in the West Coast Baseball League, a collegiate wood bat league this summer. He made three appearances - 8 IP, 6 H 2 R/ER, 5 K, 0 BB You can look at box scores and play by play at the link if interested.
Yeah. Going to college in Hawaii would really suck.
FIFY
Wow. Maybe Powell isn’t signing after all?
If he doesn’t do we get an extra pick next year?
We do not. Believe that compensation is limited to unsigned first and second picks.
The unsigned player can then go back into the draft the following year if he so chooses. The team, meanwhile, earns a compensatory pick for next year’s draft if the player was drafted in the first three rounds. The position of that pick is dependent on the draft position of the unsigned player.> Source
Thanks!!
Astros have signed all picks except McGary. Powell signed for $422,500, which is $115k over slot—and it turns out I need lessons in subtraction, because they’re still within budget (though have essentially nothing left over for McGary, who’ll presumably be heading to school). My bonus pool column included the 5% overage they’re allowed, but I was subtracting the over/under column from their pool before accounting for the overage. Oops.
Thanks!
