2012 MLB Draft Signings: Mark Appel Situation Doesn't Make Sense ... For Mark Appel

The Pirates failed to sign first-round pick Mark Appel when the MLB Draft signing deadline passed Friday afternoon, but all I can do is shrug.

For failing to sign Appel, the Pirates will get the No. 9 pick in next year's draft, along with their usual first-round draft pick. That goes a long way towards offsetting the loss of Appel.

In the meantime, you can't really criticize them for not trying. When their turn came, they took the best overall player on the board, then offered him $3.8 million, the most they could offer without forfeiting their top pick in next year's draft. That would have been a terrible move had they done so.

It would have been nice if the Pirates had signed Appel, but they did what they could, and now they'll have two first-round picks and lots of flexibility next year. Overall, it's no big loss.

In the meantime, it will be a neat trick for Scott Boras to get more than $3.8 million for his client next year. Appel will have to land in the top 10 picks yet again, which isn't easy to do, and he'll have to hope that the team that picks him doesn't lowball him due to his being a college senior. It's possible Appel could get more money, but it's a ridiculous gamble, particularly given the injury problems associated with pitchers in their early 20s. The only reasonable conclusion here is that Boras probably cost him money. Good luck to him.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft Signings: Mark Appel Turns Down $3.8 Million Offer From Pirates, According To Reports

Negotiations between the Pittsburgh Pirates and their top pick from the 2012 MLB Draft Mark Appel went down to the final seconds, however the two sides could not reach a deal, with Appel turning down a reported offer of $3.8 million, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America.

In a statement he released, Appel explained the reasoning of his decision.

"After much thought, prayer & analysis of both opportunities, I came to the conclusion the best decision is to remain at Stanford continuing my studies, finishing my degree & doing all I can to assist the Cardinal baseball team in our goal to win nat. championship"

Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Neil Huntington also released a statement, explaining that the Pirates offered every last dollar they could to Appel without losing picks in next-year's draft.

"Our final offer exceeded the available bonus pool money and was essentially up to the last dollar we could offer prior to falling into the second tier penalty which would have resulted in the loss of a first round draft selection... [W]e simply did not feel it was in the best interest of the organization to forfeit our first round selection in the 2013 amateur draft."

The Pirates will now have the ninth selection in the 2013 MLB Draft as compensation in addition to the pick they receive based on their final place in the standings at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. Still not enough baseball for you? Head over to Baseball Nation for the latest news from all 30 MLB teams as the second half of the season begins.

2012 MLB Draft Signings: Pirates Sign 16th-Round Pick Max Moroff, According To Reports

The clock continues to tick toward the 5 p.m. deadline for signing picks from the 2012 MLB Draft, and while there has been no word on whether the Pirates have been able to lock up top pick Mark Appel, Pirates Prospects is reporting that they have signed infielder Max Moroff.

Moroff was selected by the Pirates in the 16th round. The most interesting part of this development is that Moroff signed for $300,000, which is $200,000 above slot. The Pirates now have $200,000 less to spend toward Appel and the remaining unsigned picks. Pirates Prospects says that Moroff's was originally leaning toward honoring his commitment to play at Central Florida, but the money apparently changed his mind.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. Still not enough baseball for you? Head over to Baseball Nation for the latest news from all 30 MLB teams as the second half of the season begins.

2012 MLB Draft Signings: Mark Appel Still Unsigned For Pirates

As of 2:45 Friday afternoon, there's still no indication that the Pirates have reached an agreement with No. 9 overall 2012 MLB Draft pick Mark Appel. The deadline for signings is 5:00 p.m.

Twitter is currently filled with speculation too, um, speculative to bother posting here, but the summary is that no one knows if he'll sign. Although I'm less certain than I was a week ago, I still think he will. He's advised by Scott Boras, whose usual pattern is to wait until the absolute last second to begin negotiating, so the fact that Appel isn't under contract yet isn't necessarily cause for alarm. And not signing, regardless of how much he and Boras might dislike the draft rules, just doesn't make much sense, at least not from a financial perspective. Next year, Appel is unlikely to get more than the $3 million-plus the Pirates are likely offering, because he'll be a college senior and because the draft rules make it very hard to even get $3 million for picks outside the first round.

The Pirates would get the No. 9 pick in next year's draft if Appel doesn't sign.

The Bucs signed 18th-rounder John Kuchno, from Ohio State, earlier in the afternoon.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft: Pirates, Mark Appel Must Reach Agreement -- Or Not -- By Friday Afternoon

Friday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for No. 8 overall 2012 MLB Draft pick Mark Appel to reach agreement -- or not -- with the Pirates.

Appel's advisor is Scott Boras, whose usual tactic is to wait until right before the signing deadline, because he thinks that gives his clients the most leverage. I wouldn't expect Appel to sign before Friday afternoon, probably right before the deadline.

That's assuming he signs at all, although not doing so would be a questionable decision. The Pirates have a limited amount of money -- about $3.8 million -- to spend on Appel, due to the new draft rules. That might not be an amount Appel is happy with, given that he was widely expected to go to the Astros at No. 1 overall. Nonetheless, there isn't much he can do about it. Expecting to be picked in the top 10 again next year is a dicey proposition, and he'll be a college senior then, which gives him very little leverage.

In the end, I expect Appel to sign, despite rumblings that he might not. If he doesn't, though, the Pirates would be compensated with the No. 9 overall pick in next year's draft.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft: Mark Appel 'Leaning Against' Signing With Pirates, According To Report

Jon Heyman tweets that Pirates first-round draft pick Mark Appel is "leaning against" signing.

Mark Appel, rhp picked No. 8 overall, is leaning against signing w/ the pirates for $3.8M to instead return to stanford

Scott Boras is Appel's advisor, and Heyman is known to publish pretty much everything Boras tells him. Note that this tweet merely says that Appel is "leaning against" signing, not that he isn't signing. This sounds like something Boras is floating out there as a way of increasing his client's leverage.

The problem is that his client has very little of that. If the Pirates have already offered $3.8 million, they can't really go higher without running afoul of MLB's new draft rules and losing their first-round pick next year, which I'm sure they won't be willing to do. And if they don't sign Appel, they'll get the No. 9 overall pick in next year's draft, in addition to their normal first-round pick. Also, Appel is very likely to lose money if he chooses to forgo signing and reenter the draft next year, because getting a big bonus as a college senior is hard and because it's nearly impossible to get $3.8 million without being drafted in the first dozen picks.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft: No Reason For Pirates To Cave For Mark Appel, Scott Boras

MLB Draft Signings: Pirates Sign Adrian Sampson, Chris Diaz

The Pirates have signed two more 2012 MLB Draft picks, fifth-rounder Adrian Sampson and 11th-rounder Chris Diaz.

In addition, supplemental first-round pick Barrett Barnes began play with the State College Spikes, so that signing is also officially done.

Here’s the full list of official signings so far.

1a. Barrett Barnes, OF
2. Wyatt Mathisen, C
3. Jon Sandfort, P
5. Adrian Sampson, P
6. Eric Wood, 3B
7. Jake Stallings, C
10. Pat Ludwig, P
11. Chris Diaz, SS
12. Dalton Friend, P
13. Tom Harlan, P
20. Kyle Haynes, P
23. Lance Breedlove, P
25. Joshua Smith, P

Sampson was ranked the No. 84 overall prospect in the draft by Baseball America. He hails from a Washington state community college, but he had a commitment to the University of Oregon. Diaz is an infielder from North Carolina State. Both players are likely to head to State College.

For more on the Pirates, be sure to check out Bucs Dugout.

MLB Draft Signings 2012: Pirates Officially Sign Jon Sandfort

The Pirates have officially signed third-round 2012 MLB Draft pick Jon Sandfort, a Florida high school pitcher.

Pirates sign 3rd round pick Jon Sandfort (RHP). He was 8-1 with a 0.92 ERA as a senior this year at Winter Springs (FL) High School.

Sandfort said shortly after the draft that he was eager to sign, and there had already been rumblings that he had reached an agreement with the Pirates, so this is no surprise.

Sandfort is yet another tall, “projectable” pitcher. The Pirates have drafted lots of these types of pitchers in the past few years, and none of them have really done much yet, but hey — maybe this is the one. He’ll likely start the season in the Gulf Coast League.

There was no immediate word on how much Sandfort would be paid.

Here’s a full list of the Pirates’ official signings so far.

2. Wyatt Mathisen, C
3. Jon Sandfort, P
6. Eric Wood, 3B
7. Jake Stallings, C
10. Pat Ludwig, P
12. Dalton Friend, P
13. Tom Harlan, P
20. Kyle Haynes, P
23. Lance Breedlove, P
25. Joshua Smith, P

2012 MLB Draft Signings: Pirates, Barrett Barnes Agree To Terms

The Pirates have agreed to terms with supplemental first-round MLB Draft pick Barrett Barnes. Barnes will get a bonus of $1 million.

Barnes is an outfielder from Texas Tech who has good speed, some power, and a chance to stick in center field. He becomes one of the Pirates’ better hitting prospects.

MLB’s bonus recommendation for Barnes’ pick was about $1,136,000, so the Pirates are saving about $136,000 against the pool that they might be able to use on first-rounder Mark Appel or on another draft pick.

The Pirates have not yet officially announced the move. Here are the draft picks whose signings have officially been announced.

2. Wyatt Mathisen, C
6. Eric Wood, 3B
7. Jake Stallings, C
10. Pat Ludwig, P
12. Dalton Friend, P
13. Tom Harlan, P
20. Kyle Haynes, P
23. Lance Breedlove, P
25. Joshua Smith, P

Via Tim Williams.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 Draft Signings: Pirates Officially Sign Eight

The Pirates have officially signed eight more picks from the 2012 Draft, bringing their total to nine, including second-rounder Wyatt Mathisen, who was signed earlier this week.

6. Eric Wood, 3B
7. Jake Stallings, C
10. Pat Ludwig, P
12. Dalton Friend, P
13. Tom Harlan, P
20. Kyle Haynes, P
23. Lance Breedlove, P
25. Joshua Smith, P

Stallings, Ludwig, Harlan, Breedlove and Smith were all college seniors, meaning they didn’t have a whole lot of leverage, so it’s no surprise they signed quickly.

Wood is from junior college, and no one seems to know a whole lot about him. Reports have indicated that the Pirates saved some money against their draft pool by signing him cheaply.

Friend is a reasonably-well-regarded lefty from a Missouri junior college.

Haynes was a junior at VCU.

Draft picks beyond Round 10 have a limit of $100,000 for each pick. Any pick after that counts against the Pirates’ $6.6 million draft pool. It’s doubtful anyone from after Round 10 in this group of signings went over $100,000.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

Image: Wyatt Mathisen, Second-Round MLB Draft Pick, Signs With Pirates

2012 MLB Draft Signings: Wyatt Mathisen, Dalton Friend Reportedly Agree To Terms With Pirates

Pirates Prospects reports/notes that the Pirates have agreed to terms with two more 2012 draft picks, second-rounder Wyatt Mathisen and 12th-rounder Dalton Friend. It's not yet clear how much either player will be getting.

Both players profile as prospects. Mathisen was the third player the Pirates selected, but you could make a case that he was the second-most-interesting player they drafted, behind No. 8 overall pick Mark Appel. He was rated as one of the best catching prospects in the draft. He was committed to the University of Texas, so it's great that the Pirates were able to snag him.

Friend is a left-handed pitcher out of a Missouri junior college. Baseball America ranked him the No. 328 prospect in the draft.

Assuming all the reported agreements come through (none of the signings are official yet), the Pirates have the following players in the fold.

2. Wyatt Mathisen
3. Jon Sandfort
6. Eric Wood
7. Jacob Stallings
9. D.J. Crumlich
12. Dalton Friend

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft Signings: Pirates Likely To Quickly Sign Jon Sandfort, Other Early-Round Picks

Pirates Prospects notes that the Bucs appear to have agreed to terms with several early-round draft picks: third-rounder Jon Sandfort, sixth-rounder Eric Wood, and ninth-rounder D.J. Crumlich. A separate post reports that seventh-rounder Jacob Stallings has agreed to terms as well.

We already knew Sandfort was eager to sign.

That Wood, Stallings and Crumlich would sign quickly is no surprise. Wood wasn’t a well-known prospect, and he’ll evidently sign for $100,000, saving the Pirates $88,000 in pool money that they might be able to use later on first-rounder Mark Appel or a promising later-round pick. Stallings and Crumlich are college seniors and will probably also save the Pirates money against their pool allotment.

The key here is how the Pirates will handle negotiations with first-round pick Mark Appel, who likely won’t sign until near the deadline. His recommended pool value is $2.9 million.

For more on the Pirates, head over to Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Pirates Selections Worthy Of Praise

2012 MLB Draft: The 21 Best Names, From Storm Throne To Skye Bolt

From Magnifico to Jamodrick to Zebulon to Dykxhoorn, the 21 best names from the 2012 MLB Draft.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Pirates Pick Two Players With Local Ties On Day 3

The third, and final, day of the MLB Draft rarely makes for great drama except among the geekiest of us, and that's especially true this year. The third day of the draft covers Rounds 16 through 40, and with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement in effect, it's very hard for teams to pay desirable prospects big bonuses in those rounds. So where, in the past, you'd see the Pirates and other teams grab a very promising high school player in a later round and then lure him away from college with a big bonus, that isn't really possible anymore.

You can check out the Day 3 results for the Pirates here, and for all of the major leagues here. The Pirates list features a bunch of reasonably interesting high school players with college commitments, but the Bucs won't be able to offer any of them much more than $100,000 to sign, so many of them will probably go to college. The list includes Jared West (39th round), brother of former Florida Marlins pitcher Sean West. It also includes Stanford University running back Tyler Gaffney, who was selected as an outfielder in the 24th round.

It also includes two players with local ties. The Bucs chose Penn State infielder Jordan Steranka in the 21st round, and while he probably isn't much of a prospect, the Pirates will probably be able to sign him and send him straight to their minor-league affiliate in State College, the Spikes. The Spikes have been unhappy with the Pirates for not bringing them enough wins, and Steranka is the perfect player to help out with that.

The other is Zarley Zalewski, who's from Valley Senior High School in New Kensington. You can probably tell that his parents are Penguins fans.

For much more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Reviewing The Pirates' Picks From Day 2

The Pittsburgh Pirates started the second day of the 2012 MLB Draft by selecting Wyatt Mathisen, a catcher from Callen High School in Texas. He was third of 16 players selected in the draft for the Pirates. The question for Mathisen is whether or not they can sign him or if he will head for the University of Texas where he has an offer to play.

According to Bucs Dugout, Mathisen is considered by many to be the best high school catcher in the draft. The pool value for that pick is around $750,000. It could have been a strategy to try and direct more money into signing first-round pick Mark Appel.

Pittsburgh took another high school player on the second day of the draft, Florida right-handed pitcher Jonathan Sandfort. Only 17, Sandfort already throws 92 mph. He signed a commitment to play at the University of Florida.

In the fourth round, the Pirates picked Brandon Thomas, a center fielder from Georgia Tech. Athletic with some power, he projects as an everyday player at the position.

The Pirates got another good pick in the fifth round with right-handed pitcher Adrian Sampson, per Bucs Dugout. Recovered from Tommy John surgery, he throws in the low 90s with good command, which makes him look like a good value pick.

Pittsburgh's draft class looks like this so far:

8. Mark Appel, P, Stanford
45. Barrett Barnes, OF, Texas Tech
69. Wyatt Mathisen, C, Texas HS
103. Jonathan Sandford, P, Florida HS
136. Brandon Thomas, OF, Georgia Tech
166. Adrian Sampson, P, Bellevue CC
196. Eric Wood, 3B, Blinn College
226. Jacob Stallings, C, University of North Carolina
256. Kevin Ross, SS, Illinois HS
286. Douglas Crumlich, SS, UC-Irvine
316. Pat Ludwig, P, Yale
346. Chris Diaz, SS, NC State
376. Dalton Friend, P, Jefferson College
406. Thomas Harlan, P, Fresno State
436. Walker Buehler, P, Kentucky HS
466. Jonathan Youngblood, CF, Meridian CC

For more info on the Pirates' draft picks, visit Bucs Dugout.

MLB Draft Results: Pirates Select 14 More Players On Second Day

The Pittsburgh Pirates wrapped up the second day of the 2012 MLB Draft by adding 14 more prospects. Neal Huntington opened the day by drafting high school catching prospect Wyatt Mathisen and wrapped the day by selecting centerfielder Jonathan Youngblood. On top of big prize Mark Appel on Monday night, the Bucs selected six more arms on Tuesday -- including four righties and two lefties. The complete list of Day 2 prospects below:

• Mathisen, Wyatt -- Calallen HS, TX C
• Sandfort, Jonathan -- Winter Springs HS, FL RHP
• Thomas, Brandon -- Georgia Tech, GA CF
• Sampson, Adrian -- Bellevue CC, WA RHP
• Wood, Eric -- Blinn College, TX 3B
• Stallings, Jacob -- North Carolina, NC C
• Ross, Kevin -- Niles West HS, IL SS
• Crumlich, Douglas -- University of California - Irvine, CA SS
• Ludwig, Pat -- Yale U, CT RHP
• Diaz, Christopher -- North Carolina State, NC SS
• Friend, Dalton -- Jefferson College, MO LHP
• Harlan, Thomas -- Fresno State, CA LHP
• Buehler, Walker -- Henry Clay HS, KY RHP
• Youngblood, Jonathan -- Meridian CC, MS CF
For more on the Pirates and their Draft, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Pirates Select Brandon Thomas, Adrian Sampson And Eric Wood

The Pittsburgh Pirates have used three draft picks to address the outfield, pitching and the infield in successive rounds. In the fourth round, the Pirates selected outfielder Brandon Thomas out of Georgia Tech. Charlie Wilmoth of Bucs Dugout says that Thomas, a switch-hitter, could find a home in center field because of his speed.

He's a switch-hitter, and Jim Callis thinks he can stick in center (presumably due in part to good speed). He easily could have been a second-round pick, so again, the Pirates aren't going to let Scott Boras and Mark Appel dictate what they do here.

Signability could be a minor concern here, but the Pirates are looking to find a player that could be a big contributor.

In the fifth round, the Pirates selected right handed pitcher Adrian Sampson out of Bellevue Community College. He is currently committed to Oregon, so it remains to be seen if he goes to college or decides to sign with Pittsburgh. Wilmoth says that this was a good value pick for the Pirates.

Baseball America ranked him the second-best prospect in the state of Washington and No. 84 nationally, so again, this is a very solid pick in terms of value.

Sampson did have Tommy John surgery a few years ago, but he looks fully healed from that procedure.

In the sixth round, the Pirates selected third baseman Eric Wood from Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. There is not much on him currently, but he was selected in the 37th round by the Oakland Athletics last year, so there is something there that the Pirates scouts see.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Pirates Get Jonathan Sandfort In 3rd Round

In the third round of the 2012 MLB Draft, the Pirates have selected Jonathan Sandfort, a high-school pitcher from Florida who has a commitment to the University of Florida. He's only 17 and is already 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds, so he has that archetypal pitcher's body the Pirates seem to love. We're going to see lots of references to Sandfort being "projectable."

Via Minor League Ball, here's a note on Sandfort:

Outstanding pitcher's build, strong with room to get stronger. Fastball to 92 mph, maintains velocity well, occasional arm side run. Very nice feel for change up, good arm speed and shows confidence in the pitch, soft curveball spin at present, needs more power in breaking ball, throws strikes and has an idea. Very athletic for his size.

Assuming the Pirates are able to sign him, Sandfort will take many years to develop, but the Pirates surely hope that he's able to reach his potential. They've drafted tons of tall high school pitchers over the last few years and haven't yet had much success with them, but perhaps Sandfort will be different.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Pirates Take Wyatt Mathisen In Second Round

In the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft, the Pirates have selected catcher Wyatt Mathisen with the No. 69 overall pick.

Mathisen was one of the highest-regarded players remaining, and after the pick, Baseball America's Jim Callis called him the best high-school catcher in the draft. He has a commitment to the University of Texas. There had been some discussion about the Pirates potentially using their second- through 10th-round picks to take signable players in order to free up money for first-round pick Mark Appel. I think that would have been a terrible idea, and fortunately, it appears the Pirates aren't going to do that.

Here's a bit of a scouting report on Mathisen:

It's common for a high school catcher to have to move to another position as a pro. Mathisen is the opposite, a player who's played elsewhere for his high school team who almost certainly will go back behind the plate as a pro. The University of Texas recruit mostly played shortstop and pitched for Calallen, but he has the build and the tools to be a good backstop. He has a strong arm and should be agile and athletic enough to be a good all-around defender. He has good raw power from the right side of the plate and he should hit for average as well as he develops. Because he hasn't caught much, it might take him a while to develop, but the end result could be a very good all-around catcher who can play the position every day at the highest level.

In addition to Appel and Mathisen, the Pirates also took Texas Tech outfielder Barrett Barnes at No. 45 overall.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft: To Sign Appel, Pirates Must Deal With Scott Boras

Mark Appel, the junior pitcher out of Stanford, was expected by many to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. When he slid all the way down to No. 8, the Pittsburgh Pirates and general manager Neal Huntington jumped at the opportunity to land the 6-foot-5 right-hander from Houston, Texas.

Within the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, however, the Pirates may have to use a large chunk of the money they have available to sign new draft picks in order to land Appell. As John Gupp of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes:

First the Pirates must sign Appel, represented by prominent agent Scott Boras. Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Pirates have roughly $6.56 million to sign the first 11 picks - Cole got an $8 million signing bonus last year - or face harsh penalties for going over the budget amount. It remains to be seen what chunk of the Pirates' allotment it will take to sign a once-projected No. 1 pick.

The Pirates also dealt with Boras last year when they drafted Gerrit Cole with the No.1 overall pick, as Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes. Cole signed with the Pirates just 15 minutes before the signing deadline.

For more on the MLB Draft, check out Minor League Ball. For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

Dude, You're Getting Appel: How The Pirates Wound Up With Mark Appel In The 2012 MLB Draft

How did the Pirates wind up with the player most experts thought would go first overall?

2012 MLB Draft Results: Pirates Select Barrett Barnes, Outfielder From Texas Tech

After adding stud pitching prospect Mark Appel with the No. 8 pick in the 1st Round, the PIttsburgh Pirates selected Barrett Barnes with the No. 45 pick in Compensatory Round A. The Pirates were awarded the compensatory pick with the loss of Ryan Doumit, who signed with the Minnesota Twins. Barnes hit .325 as an outfielder with Texas Tech this season. He was not drafted out of high school, but he has plenty of potential to play a corner outfield spot and hit for power.

MLB.com draft expert Jonathan Mayo described the rise of Barnes from undrafted high schooler to Top 100 prospect, writing that his production at the plate assuaged fears that he was just an athlete. Here's more from Mayo on the potential of Barnes:

Strong and athletic, Barnes is a little raw as a baseball player, but he has some offensive upside. His best tools are his raw power and his speed, and some of both have shown up in his performance this year. A center fielder currently, Barnes might be best suited for a corner spot when all is said and done. That might mean left field, as his arm is fringy average. He gets high marks for his intensity on the field.

Neal Huntington made a big splash in the top ten, taking a pitcher who many expected would be the No. 1 overall pick. Now he's added a potential future outfielder to pair with the power arm on the first night of the 2012 Draft.

For more on the MLB Draft, check out Minor League Ball. For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft: Mark Appel Pick A Smart One For Pirates

That the Pirates took Mark Appel with the No. 8 overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft wasn’t much of a surprise. That he was available was the surprise.

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington has many faults, but an unwillingness to take the best overall player in the draft isn’t one of them. His selection of Stetson Allie in 2010 hasn’t worked out, but Allie was the highest-profile player on the board at the time. The same is true of Josh Bell in the second round in 2011.

The difference between Appel and those players (well, besides Appel being a first-rounder) is that this year, the Pirates won’t be able to lure Appel with piles and piles of money, unless they’re willing to pay the steep price of the loss of their top pick next year. However, if Appel doesn’t sign, they will get the No. 9 pick in the 2013 Draft. So they can offer Appel a reasonable amount of money, and if Scott Boras won’t take it, too bad — the Pirates will effectively just get the pick again next year.

We’ll see if Appel ends up signing, but I love this pick for the Pirates — Appel is a mature college pitcher with three good pitches. He has top-of-the-rotation potential and the chance to get through the minors recently. If he signs, he’ll be a great complement to two other potential aces in Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Pirates Select Mark Appel, Top Pitching Prospect From Stanford

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected right handed pitcher Mark Appel with the No. 8 pick of the 2012 MLB Draft. Appel was considered by most to be the top pitching prospect in the draft. The Stanford product is represented by Scott Boras, which created the typical signability concerns among many teams. Still, many projected Appel to go No. 1 overall to the Houston Astros, but the dominant right hander slid down within the top ten.

MLB.com draft expert Jonathan Mayo calls Appel the complete package, with a combination of three plus-pitches. More from Mayo:

Appel has the complete package of size, stuff and ability to throw strikes. His fastball is a plus pitch now, which sits comfortably in the mid-90s and the scary thing is there might be room for a little bit more as he matures and fills out. The ball explodes out of his hand with a free and easy delivery and his fastball has above-average movement to boot. He's got an outstanding hard slider with late tilt that he can bury down in the strike zone and his circle changeup is at above-average as well, bottoming out when his mechanics are right. He can throw all three for strikes and gets very high marks for his poise and aggressiveness.

Charlie Wilmoth of SB Nation's Pirates blog, Bucs Dugout, approves of GM Neal Huntington's willingness to go after the top prospect, regardless of the signability concerns:

What a perfectly Neal Huntington-y pick. I like this a lot. In the worst case scenario, Appel doesn't want to sign, and the Pirates get a similar pick next year. The Pirates drafted the guy who nearly all mock drafts had going with the first overall pick. He's got three good pitches and could conceivably move through the system very quickly, which should work especially well this year since, if he signs, he'll actually get to pitch before the season ends.

For more on the MLB Draft, check out Minor League Ball. For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Carlos Correa Goes First Overall; How Will Dominoes Fall For Pirates?

We’re two picks into the 2012 MLB Draft, and already the mock drafts are out the window. The Astros unexpectedly chose high school shortstop Carlos Correa with the No.1 pick, and then the Twins took outfielder Byron Buxton at No. 2, as expected. That’s going to cause Mark Appel, who was widely thought likely to be the No. 1 overall pick, to fall at least to the Mariners, who suddenly have their pick of several high-upside pitchers. The Mariners have a lot of good pitching in their system already, which might or might not matter, but most mock drafts had connected the Mariners to Correa or University of Florida catcher Mike Zunino.

We’ll see if this scenario leads Appel or another pitcher, like San Francisco’s Kyle Zimmer, to fall to the Pirates at No. 8. It seems very unlikely now that they’re going to get the next top hitter, Florida high school outfielder Albert Almora.

For more on the MLB Draft, check out Minor League Ball.

MLB Mock Draft Has Pirates Taking Max Fried

In Jonathan Mayo’s latest mock, the MLB Draft plays out roughly probably expected through the first seven picks, with catcher Mike Zunino going to the Mariners at No. 3 and Carlos Correa, the last of the seven top players, going to the Padres at No. 7. That means that teammates and high school pitchers Max Fried and the injured Lucas Giolito are the highest-upside players available to the Pirates. Mayo has the Bucs going with Fried.

If the Bucs go the college route, it could be shortstop Deven Marrero or right-hander Chris Stratton, but Fried’s upside might be too much to pass up.

I would hope the Pirates would agree with that logic. I don’t think they’re going to take Marrero, but he and Stratton would both be reaches at No. 8. Fried has a lesser chance of reaching his ceiling than those players, but his upside is greater, and a team like the Pirates needs to try to find stars in the first round.

For more on the draft, check out Minor League Ball.

MLB Mock Draft 2012: Pirates Get Mike Zunino, Astros Get Byron Buxton In New Mock

Kevin Goldstein’s new mock draft plays out well for the Pirates, with the Mariners grabbing Carlos Correa at No. 3 and the Royals taking Max Fried at No. 5, allowing University of Florida catcher Mike Zunino to fall to the Pirates at No. 8.

The rumors of the Pirates reaching for Deven Marrero will not go completely away, but fewer and fewer teams seem to believe them. All of a sudden, Zunino could fall surprisingly far, and it’s hard seeing him dropping past the Pirates, as there is a clear top eight players for teams, and he’s the last one on the board. Still, there are some teams in the next four picks kicking the tires on Zunino, and hoping wildly for him to get to them.

Many draft experts appear to be backing away from the Deven Marrero rumors, which is great news. The question is what will happen if one of the first seven teams doesn’t take Fried. If they don’t, then it’s not clear whether the Bucs would take Fried or someone completely different, like college pitcher Chris Stratton.

Goldstein’s mock draft has the Astros taking Byron Buxton at No. 1 despite a recent report that they would take Stanford pitcher Mark Appel with that pick.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Pirates Pick David Dahl In New Mock

As we approach the beginning of the 2012 MLB Draft (which begins at 7:00 p.m. on Monday), Jim Callis' latest mock has the Pirates taking a player they've never been connected to before, outfielder David Dahl.

The early rumors that Pittsburgh coveted a shortstop and would take Arizona State's Deven Marrero have died out. Fried might be the only player left from a clearly defined top eight, thought the Pirates seem to prefer a bat. Unless Almora or Zunino gets here, they could opt for high school outfielders Courtney Hawkins (Texas) or David Dahl (Alabama) if they had to have a bat. The Bucs are also the earliest destination for Mississippi State righthander Chris Stratton.

I appreciate that Dahl isn't Marrero, and I like that he's a hitter, but he also would seem to be a bit of a reach. Most mocks have him going in the teens, usually the late teens. Jonathan Mayo compares him to Johnny Damon, only without Damon's power. That's fine, but to be very honest, if the first seven picks play out the way Callis imagines they will, I'd rather the Pirates just took Max Fried. Fried is a pitcher, and he has less of a chance of reaching his ceiling than Dahl does, but that ceiling is much higher.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Pirates Grab OF Albert Almora In Latest Scenario

The 2012 Major League Baseball draft is Monday night. The suddenly resurgent Pittsburgh Pirates have the eighth overall pick in the draft, and the chance to add more talent to a roster that has benefited from numerous high draft picks in the recent past.

A Monday morning mock draft from the Baltimore Sports Report has the Pirates picking up a big bat for the outfield.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates- Albert Almora, OF, HS (NC): Scooping up a hitter that they didn't expect to be there. They like the SS Marrero, but they can't take him when Almora is still on the table.

John Sickels at SB Nation's Minor League Ball had Almora going higher that eighth in his most recent mock draft. Sickels imagined the outfielder being selected by the Cubs with the sixth pick.

For more on the 2012 MLB Draft, check out SB Nation Pittsburgh's MLB Draft Primer. For more Pirates coverage, visit Bucs Dugout, and follow all the action from around the Majors at SB Nation's Baseball Nation.

MLB Draft 2012: Mark Appel To Go To Astros At No. 1 Overall, According To Report

This isn't particularly surprising, but it's still worth noting here: With the first overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, the Houston Astros appear set to pick Stanford pitcher Mark Appel.

There had previously been perhaps a bit of drama left in the question of whether the Astros would pick Appel or Georgia outfielder Byron Buxton, but most mock drafts had Appel in the top spot, with Buxton likely going to the Twins at No. 2.

Of course, we still have no idea who will be available to the Pirates at No. 8, or who they'll pick once they get there. At this point, though, more uncertainty is good. Assuming the first two picks do go Appel/Buxton, as expected, Pirates fans will be hoping for one of the next five teams to make some sort of off-the-grid selection, allowing someone like University of Florida catcher Mike Zunino or Florida high school outfielder Albert Almora to fall to the Bucs. Unfortunately, it appears the Astros won't be one of the teams doing something strange.

2012 MLB Draft Order: Pirates Pick No. 8 Overall

The 2012 MLB Draft is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. Monday. The Pirates pick at No. 8 overall, and they have two picks on the first day, which features the first round and a compensation round -- the Pirates' other Day 1, at No. 45, is a compensation pick for losing Ryan Doumit. Stanford pitcher Mark Appel is expected to go the the Astros with the first pick, but it's mostly unclear what the Pirates' options will be seven picks later. Here's the full order for the first day:

First Round
1. Houston Astros
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Kansas City Royals
6. Chicago Cubs
7. San Diego Padres
8. Pittsburgh Pirates
9. Miami Marlins
10. Colorado Rockies
11. Oakland Athletics
12. New York Mets
13. Chicago White Sox
14. Cincinnati Reds
15. Cleveland Indians
16. Washington Nationals
17. Toronto Blue Jays
18. Los Angeles Dodgers
19. St. Louis Cardinals (for Albert Pujols)
20. San Francisco Giants
21. Atlanta Braves
22. Toronto Blue Jays (for Tyler Beede, unsigned draft pick)
23. St. Louis Cardinals
24. Boston Red Sox
25. Tampa Bay Rays
26. Arizona Diamondbacks
27. Milwaukee Brewers (for Prince Fielder)
28. Milwaukee Brewers
29. Texas Rangers
30. New York Yankees
31. Boston Red Sox (for Jonathan Papelbon)

Compensation Round A
32. Minnesota Twins (Michael Cuddyer)
33. San Diego Padres (Heath Bell)
34. Oakland Athletics (Josh Willingham)
35. New York Mets (Jose Reyes)
36. St. Louis Cardinals (Albert Pujols)
37. Boston Red Sox (Jonathan Papelbon)
38. Milwaukee Brewers (Prince Fielder)
39. Texas Rangers (C.J. Wilson)
40. Philadelphia Phillies (Ryan Madson)
41. Houston Astros (Clint Barmes)
42. Minnesota Twins (Jason Kubel)
43. Chicago Cubs (Aramis Ramirez)
44. San Diego Padres (Aaron Harang)
45. Pittsburgh Pirates (Ryan Doumit)
46. Colorado Rockies (Mark Ellis)
47. Oakland Athletics (David DeJesus)
48. Chicago White Sox (Mark Buehrle)
49. Cincinnati Reds (Ramon Hernandez)
50. Toronto Blue Jays (Frank Francisco)
51. Los Angeles Dodgers (Rod Barajas)
52. St. Louis Cardinals (Octavio Dotel)
53. Texas Rangers (Darren Oliver)
54. Philadelphia Phillies (Raul Ibanez)
55. San Diego Padres (Brett Austin, unsigned draft pick)
56. Chicago Cubs (Carlos Pena)
57. Cincinnati Reds (Francisco Cordero)
58. Toronto Blue Jays (Jon Rauch)
59. St. Louis Cardinals (Edwin Jackson)
60. Toronto Blue Jays (Jose Molina)

The entire draft order can be found here. Note that the Pirates also have the eighth selection on the second day of the draft, at No. 69 overall.

For more on the 2012 MLB Draft, check out SB Nation Pittsburgh's MLB Draft Primer.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Pirates Grab Mike Zunino In New Mock; Could Lance McCullers Be A Possibility?

John Sickels' new 2012 MLB Mock Draft for SB Nation's MinorLeagueBall.com imagines a scenario many Pirates fans would be pleased to see. The Seattle Mariners, at No. 3, select Carlos Correa, causing a chain reaction that results in University of Florida catcher Mike Zunino falling to the Pirates at No. 8.

Mike Zunino, C, University of Florida: This one is hard to get a handle on. Rumors persist that the Pirates like Deven Marrero, but his bat just isn't good enough with the talent still left on the board. Zunino also plays a premium defensive position, and he's not Tony Sanchez. Lance McCullers also fits into recent Pittsburgh draft philosophy.

If Zunino falls to the Pirates, I would hope it would be an easy decision, unless of course it's a very strange scenario in which Zunino and another top player fall.

I've never heard the Pirates connected to Lance McCullers before. He's a high school pitcher from Florida who throws very hard. Like a lot of high-school pitchers, he's still working on a changeup. He also doesn't have great command yet, and he isn't particularly tall at 6-foot-1, so he might be a reliever in the long term. He also has what looks like a high-effort delivery. He's a good prospect, but I'd be disappointed if the Pirates took him.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft: With One Day Left, Still Much Uncertainty In First 8 Picks

In addition to working for SB Nation Pittsburgh, I also host the Bucs Dugout Podcast with David Todd, and our latest episode features interviews with Jim Callis of Baseball America and Vlad of Bucs Dugout regarding the 2012 MLB Draft, which starts on Monday.

If anything, our conversations demonstrated the amount of uncertainty that still exists in the draft. After the first two picks, no one is particularly sure what's going to happen. There are seven prospects who most Pirates fans view as a cut above the rest (Byron Buxton, Mark Appel, Kevin Gausman, Carlos Correa, Kyle Zimmer, Mike Zunino and Albert Almora), and I think a lot of fans would be happy with any one of those seven. Of those, Almora and Zunino are the most likely to fall.

If those seven guys go with the first seven picks, California high school lefty pitcher Max Fried remains a strong possibility. But Vlad, at least, loves the idea of picking Fried's teammate Lucas Giolito, an incredibly high-upside pitcher who recently suffered an elbow injury. Then there's also Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero, who most Pirates don't want, and other possibilities as well. With so many variables in play, it's still very hard to tell what the Pirates will do at No. 8.

Be sure to check out SB Nation Pittsburgh's MLB Draft Primer.

MLB Draft 2012: John Sickels Ranks 100 Best Prospects

Minor League Ball's John Sickels lists his top 100 prospects for the upcoming 2012 MLB Draft. This isn't a mock draft, of course, but it's a great resource as you follow the draft, which begins Monday. Topping the list is high school shortstop Carlos Correa, followed by college pitchers Kyle Zimmer, Kevin Gausman and Mark Appel. Then comes two high school outfielders in Byron Buxton and Albert Almora, followed by college catcher Mike Zunino.

The consensus is that those seven players are the best available in the draft. But I've never seen a mock draft that put those players in that order, which shows how much uncertainty there still is at this late date. That's probably good for the Pirates, as it increases the chances that one of those seven players will fall to the Bucs. Almora seems to be the most likely, although Zunino's name has come up more and more as a possibility recently.

Be sure to check out SB Nation Pittsburgh's 2012 MLB Draft Primer.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Could Mike Zunino Wind Up With Pirates?

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus released an MLB mock draft earlier this week that had the Pirates taking Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero, but his latest mock draft (which he wrote after "a day of phone calls") is considerably more interesting, and more encouraging, for Pirates fans. He notes that the Seattle Mariners, at No. 3, and the Kansas City Royals, at No. 5, each have the chance to do something really surprising. In this mock, he has the Mariners taking high school shortstop Carlos Correa and Royals reaching a tad to grab high school lefty Max Fried at No. 5:

The problem with putting [University of San Francisco RHP Kyle] Zimmer here is Zimmer's rough end to the season with Dayton Moore in attendance. If that's the only look the GM got, it could be a hard sell. Still, the club is desperate for pitching, and something wacky could happen here, including Fried or a bit of a reach for Michael Wacha.

After that, the Cubs take Albert Almora and the Padres take Zimmer ... leaving University of Florida catcher Mike Zunino to fall to the Pirates. Bucs fans would, I'm sure, be jumping for joy if that happened, since Zunino has very good potential both with the bat and with the glove.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Pirates To Pick Deven Marrero, Kevin Goldstein Says

Baseball Prospectus' latest 2012 MLB Mock Draft has the Pirates taking Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero -- who, in case you haven't heard, Pirates fans don't like very much.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State

The whole industry thinks this is who the Pirates are targeting to solve their long-standing shortstop woes. [Albert] Almora would be tempting here if he falls.

We'll see if the Pirates do indeed end up picking Marrero. It's certainly a possibility, but I currently doubt they will. Many players with better bats will be available, and the Pirates need to draft someone who has some shot at becoming a star.

Goldstein's draft has the Astros taking Georgia high school outfielder Byron Buxton, rather than Stanford pitcher Mark Appel, first overall. Carlos Correa goes to the Mariners at No. 3, with Florida catcher Mike Zunino falling to the Cubs at No. 6. This would be a frustrating draft for the Pirates if this is how it plays out, with Zunino and Almora almost falling to the Bucs, only to be snagged at No. 6 and No. 7.

For more on the draft, check out SB Nation Pittsburgh's MLB Draft Primer.

2012 MLB Draft Primer: How The First 8 Picks Might Go For The Pirates

With lots of uncertainty in the 2012 MLB Draft, it's not clear who will be available to the Pirates at No. 8.

MLB Draft 2012: Pirates Not Interested In Deven Marrero, Local Writer Says

In a chat Thursday afternoon at the Trib's website, Dejan Kovacevic writes that, despite predictions from several national analysts that the Pirates will choose Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero with the No. 8 overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, the Bucs will look elsewhere.

I don't have a firm name yet. The only thing I can share that I've heard all week is that this shortstop everyone is assigning to be the Pirates' choice -- Deven Marrero -- it WON'T be him. If the Pirates are going to get a bat, they're going to get a bat-first prospect. Marrero isn't that.

Kovacevic is a local guy and a good source for Pirates news, so I assume he knows what's he's talking about here. Also, the national analysts were almost unanimous last week in projecting the Pirates would take Marrero, but they seem to have eased up recently, pointing to other potential targets, like Max Fried, Albert Almora, Chris Stratton and Mike Zunino. It sounds like Pirates fans, who nearly unanimously don't want their team picking a defense-first shortstop, might be able to breathe a little easier.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Pirates Take Max Fried In New Mock

Jonathan Mayo's latest mock MLB Draft has the Pirates taking California high school lefty pitcher Max Fried:

Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero is in the mix and Mississippi State right-hander Chris Stratton will get considered if the three aforementioned college pitchers are gone. But the Pirates have shown they like good young arms and Fried is one of the best this year.

High school outfielder Albert Almora and shortstop Carlos Correa go to the Cubs and Padres, respectively, with the two previous picks, which would be a shame. Fried is a high-upside pitcher who has been compared to Clayton Kershaw, and he certainly appears to be a better prospect than Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero, who mock drafters often have the Pirates taking, but it would be nice if the Pirates were able to add a high-upside bat like Almora or University of Florida catcher Mike Zunino (who goes to the Mariners at No. 3 in this draft).

For more on the draft, check out Minor League Ball.

MLB Draft 2012: Mike Zunino Could Fall To Pirates, Jim Callis Says

Baseball America's Jim Callis appeared on Trib Live Radio Thursday morning to discuss the upcoming MLB Draft. One interesting detail he revealed is that he thinks Florida catcher Mike Zunino could slip in the draft, and that the Pirates might take him. He also said he does not think the Pirates will take a pitcher at No. 8 overall, despite the fact that there will probably be worthy pitchers available. If Zunino isn't available, and the Bucs decide not to go with Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero, then Florida high school outfielder Albert Almora could be a possibility.

Here's a report on Zunino:

Zunino is the best catcher in this Draft class and he has the potential to be a very good everyday big league backstop. While he does have a bit of a long swing and can struggle with offspeed stuff at times, he has bat speed and loft, meaning he should have plenty of future power. With some more consistency with his swing, he could be a middle of the order bat. Behind the plate, he's a natural leader who can run a pitching staff.

Zunino would represent excellent value for the No. 8 overall pick.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

MLB Draft 2012 Prospects: Where Do Potential Pirates Targets Rank In Draft Class?

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus (subscription only) lists the top 15 prospects in the upcoming 2012 MLB Draft. It's possible to read these things, feel smarter for having read them, and still not have a clear idea what's going to happen next week, because the situation is still so fluid.

For example, I've yet to see Goldstein's top-rated prospect, Carlos Correa, going to the Astros with the No. 1 pick. Goldstein's No. 2 prospect, high school pitcher Lucas Giolito, might go with in the top 10 picks, or he might drop out of the first round completely, due to injury concerns (he's been out for a couple months now with an elbow sprain) and bonus demands. (The player I like the most so far, Georgia high school outfielder Byron Buxton, is ranked No. 3.)

Albert Almora, a Florida high school outfielder, is a possible target for the Pirates at No. 8; Goldstein ranks him as the sixth-best prospect in the draft. High school lefty Max Fried, another potential Bucs target, is at No. 11. Then there's Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero at No. 12.

A plus defender at shortstop, which in this draft is more than enough to make him an elite pick. He's a quick-twitch athlete with great instincts, range, hands and plenty of arm for the position. He has enough bat to easily project as an everyday player who hits at the end of a lineup, and he has a shot at hitting second if his line drive bat fully develops. One scout compared him to Royals prospect Christian Colon, but with superior defense.

Given the Pirates' obvious problems finding hitting, most Bucs fans would prefer that the team not use the eighth overall pick in the draft to grab a future No. 7 or No. 8 hitter. Still, one mock draft after another has the Pirates taking Marrero.

For more on the draft, check out Minor League Ball.

MLB Mock Draft 2012: Keith Law Mock Has Pirates Taking Deven Marrero, Passing On Albert Almora

Keith Law’s latest MLB mock draft (subscription-only) has the Pirates going with Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero at No. 8, probably much to Bucs fans’ chagrin.

Although there is a strong industry consensus that Marrero is the Bucs’ pick, I think they’re still seriously exploring other options. I’ve also heard them on Chris Stratton, and I imagine they’d be open to any top-end player (such as [Albert] Almora) who falls out of the top seven picks. [Lucas] Giolito is also a possibility here.

At least it sounds like the situation is pretty fluid. This mock has Almora, a toolsy high school outfielder with good makeup, falling to the Marlins at No. 9; I’d like to think that if Almora fell to the Bucs, they’d take him rather than Marrero, but Law is closer to this stuff than I am. Pirates fans don’t want the Bucs to choose Marrero, who hasn’t been an outstanding hitter in college.

For more on the MLB Draft, head over to Minor League Ball. For more on the Pirates, there’s Bucs Dugout.

MLB Draft 2012: Lucas Giolito Appears To Throw 220 Feet In Rehab

MLB Draft Insider has video of high school pitcher Lucas Giolito, who's rehabbing from an elbow sprain, throwing at 60 and 220 feet.

Giolito, who has dazzling stuff, is a potential early-first-round pick in the upcoming 2012 MLB Draft if he can prove he's healthy. These videos don't exactly do that (and, in fact, the videos haven't been authenticated), but they do raise hopes that Giolito can convince teams he's worthy of a top-10 overall pick.

If he can do that, that's great news for Pirates fans, many of whom are hoping the Bucs will avoid picking Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero at No. 8. If Giolito is selected before the Pirates pick, then the Bucs will have an extra player to choose from, perhaps someone like Florida high school outfielder Albert Almora, who most draft experts regard as a better talent than Marrero.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the MLB Draft, check out Minor League Ball.

MLB Mock Draft 2012: Could Albert Almora Fall To Pirates?

SB Nation's minor league and draft blog, Minor League Ball, recently had a community mock draft in which the Pirates chose high school outfielder Albert Almora with the No. 8 overall pick. Here are the Bucs' results, along with John Sickels' comments:

1-8) Albert Almora, OF, Florida HS
1S-45) Barrett Barnes, OF, Texas Tech
2-69) Tom Murphy, C, University of Buffalo
3-103) Lex Rutledge, LHP, Samford

John's Take: I like this. Barnes and Murphy are two of my favorite college players. Both have power; Barnes adds speed to the mix, while Murphy is a sound defender. Almora is about as safe as a high school player can be: all of his tools are better-than-average-to-excellent, he's polished for his age, and his makeup is sound. He could go higher than this under some scenarios. Rutledge is erratic but throws very hard and could be a steal.

Getting Almora, a young hitter with good tools and great makeup, would be a terrific result for the Pirates. The question is whether he'll be available when they pick. This particular mock (you can see the results here) worked out a bit differently than most mocks I've seen, with Stanford pitcher Mark Appel, who usually goes at No. 1 to the Astros, dropping to the Royals at No. 5, and the Cubs and Padres, who pick at No. 6 and No. 7, going for high school lefty Max Fried and Alabama high school outfielder David Dahl, respectively. Dahl, in particular, is a bit of a reach at No. 7.

Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero, who many Pirates fans fear the team will pick, falls all the way to the Rays at No. 25 in this mock.

MLB Draft 2012: Pirates Take Deven Marrero In Yet Another Mock

Baseball America's latest 2012 MLB mock draft has the Pirates taking Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero at No. 8 overall. Pirates fans probably wouldn't be too happy if that's how things went down, especially since the Bucs pass on Florida high school outfielder Albert Almora in this mock. Almora appears to have much more upside with the bat than Marrero does -- Marrero's calling card is his defense, and he has struggled with his hitting this year.

Stanford pitcher Mark Appel goes to the Astros at No. 1 overall, and then the Twins get arguably the best prospect in the draft, Georgia high school outfielder Byron Buxton. The Mariners take Florida catcher Mike Zunino, and then college pitchers Kevin Gausman and Kyle Zimmer go off the board, to the Orioles and Royals. The Cubs take Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa, and then the Padres grab California high school pitcher Max Fried at No. 7. Lucas Giolito, the most talented high school pitcher in the draft, falls out of the first round, presumably due to injury concerns.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the draft, there's Minor League Ball.

MLB Mock Draft 2012: Pirates Take Max Fried In Jonathan Mayo's Latest Mock

Jonathan Mayo's new 2012 MLB mock draft doesn't have the Pirates taking Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero, but rather high school pitcher Max Fried.

The talk about the Pirates and Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero hasn't gone away and Marrero did have a good weekend with the bat. But his offensive struggles this season have some concerned and the Pirates certainly have shown they like good young arms in the Draft. Fried is one of the best, bouncing back from two shaky starts with a playoff shutout last week.

High school arms are, of course, a risk in the first round, but the Pirates aren't going to get someone perfect with the No. 8 overall selection in a weak draft. To the outsider, Fried certainly appears to be a more exciting pick than Marrero, a good defensive shortstop who has had serious problems hitting this year. Here's Mayo's scouting report on Fried.

Fried has a good three-pitch mix and knows how to use it. His fastball sits comfortably in the 90-91 mph range, but he can reach back for 93-94 mph when he needs to. His fastball has good natural sink and he'll also throw a cutter. He's got a Major League average curve that he can throw for strikes at any point in the count and his changeup should be above average, with good deception and late sink.

Fried is a lefty, and he has that type of projectable, 6-foot-4 frame that the Pirates seem to love.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the draft, there's Minor League Ball.

2012 MLB Draft: Deven Marrero Might Not Be Right Pick For Pirates At No. 8, Jim Callis Says

Baseball America’s Jim Callis sent out a number of tweets late Thursday morning regarding the Pirates’ choice with the No. 8 overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft.

Giolito easy if healthy. Then Marrero over Shaffer. @pbcorbust: #Pirates better w/Marrero, Shaffer, Giolito, Roache w/first pick?

Re Giolito: Until teams know elbow & signability, hard to see where he fits. Can’t go at top of #mlbdraft & then it’s hard to pay him.

A bit rich for me at 8. @buccobarnes12: Do you believe that Marrero would be a good pick at#8?

The players in question here are Deven Marrero, a shortstop from Arizona State, and Lucas Giolito, a California high-school pitcher. The Pirates have frequently been connected to Marrero, whose calling card is his excellent defense. Unfortunately, he has struggled offensively this year. Giolito has more upside and could conceivably fall to the Pirates. He sprained his elbow earlier this season, however. As a Pirates fan, my hope is that Giolito proves he’s healthy and the Pirates take him. Marrero could certainly become a good big-leaguer, and the ability to play big-league-caliber shortstop isn’t easy to find. But there are too many questions about his offense.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the draft, there’s Minor League Ball.

MLB Draft 2012: Mark Appel, Kevin Gausman, Kyle Zimmer Top List Of College Pitchers

Jonathan Mayo lists the top college pitchers in this year's MLB Draft. There's supposed to be decent college pitching talent early in the draft, but not so much depth. That won't be a problem for the Pirates, at least not in the first round, because the Bucs pick eighth overall.

I haven't yet seen the Pirates connected to any college pitchers -- many experts think they'll pick Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero, although there's also been some speculation about high school pitchers Lucas Giolito and Max Fried. But with a lot of uncertainty in the first round, a college pitcher is certainly a possibility. The Bucs probably won't get Stanford pitcher Mark Appel, who many mock drafts currently going first overall to the Houston Astros. But someone like LSU's Kevin Gauman or San Francisco's Kyle Zimmer might be a slight possibility depending on how the top of the first round shakes out, and even if none of those players fall to the Bucs, they're worth keeping an eye on, simply to see who does turn out to be available when the Pirates pick.

For more on the draft, check out Minor League Ball.

MLB Draft 2012: Pirates Have $6.6 Million Available For Draft Picks

The Pittsburgh Pirates have spent more money over the last four seasons on their draft picks. With the new rules in place this year thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement, that will not be the case. The Pittsburgh Pirates will only be allowed around $6.6 million for signing picks made in the first 10 rounds.

The Pirates will be drafting in the top 10 for the seventh straight season. Here's the breakdown of their draft budget according to Baseball America.

PIRATES
11 $6,563,500
8 $2,900,000
45 $1,136,400
69 $746,300
103 $462,900
136 $336,700
166 $252,100
196 $188,800
226 $148,000
256 $138,200
286 $129,100
316 $125,000

The Pirates certainly hope that they will be able to put their money to good use come June 5 when the draft begins. These new rules could certainly make the entire draft practice more interesting given that teams could pass over needs for a player they are more likely to be able to sign.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

MLB Mock Draft 2012: Could Lucas Giolito Fall To Pirates?

SB Nation’s Minor League Ball site has a 10-round MLB mock draft. A 10-round mock is, of course, utterly insane (far more insane than the seven-round NFL mock drafts we saw before the NFL Draft a few weeks ago, which were already pretty insane), given the number of players involved and how obscure MLB Draft prospects tend to be after the first 15 picks of so. But it’s all in good fun, so let’s play along.

This draft has high school pitcher Lucas Giolito falling to the Pirates at No. 8, which is an outcome that would excite a lot of Pirates fans — Giolito is the top high school pitching prospect in the draft. (He’s currently recovering from an elbow sprain, however.) The Astros take Stanford hurler Mark Appel first overall. Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero, who some draft experts have connected to the Pirates, falls to the White Sox at No. 13.

For more on the Pirates, be sure to check out Bucs Dugout.

MLB Draft 2012: Could Max Fried Emerge As Alternative To Deven Marrero For Pirates?

Jonathan Mayo writes about the re-emergence of California high school lefty pitcher Max Fried, who pitched well on Thursday, showing a 90-95 MPH fastball and a big-breaking curve. This could be significant for the Pirates. The Bucs have been linked to Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero, who most Pirates fans would probably rather avoid, due to his hitting struggles this season. If Fried’s stock rises, though, there seems to be some possibility the Bucs could take him instead — Mayo’s last mock draft listed Fried as an alternative to Marrero. Anyway, here’s Mayo:

There may have been a time when teams in the middle of the first, or maybe even the second half of the first round, thought they had a shot of Fried getting to them, it’s hard to imagine that happening now. My first projection had him going No. 10 to the Rockies, though as someone pointed out to me recently, Colorado might be a little gun shy about taking a SoCal high school lefty this high (see Matzek, Tyler). That point may now be moot as Fried could be gone by the time the Rockies make that selection.

High school pitchers are always risky picks, due to the difficulty in getting them all the way to the majors with their elbows and shoulders intact. At this point, though, Fried appears to have a bunch more upside, at least from an outsider’s perspective.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

2012 MLB Draft: Pirates Projected To Take Deven Marrero In New Mock

Would light-hitting but slick-fielding shortstop Deven Marrero be a good use of the eighth overall pick in the MLB Draft?