The Atlanta Braves have until midnight tonight (Eastern Time) to reach agreements with any of their unsigned draft picks from this year's First Year Player Draft. It has already been a banner year for amount of talent signed, as the Braves have wrapped up 34 of their 51 draft picks.
Two big picks remain unsigned though. The highest unsigned pick is 17th-round selection Stefan Sabol. He was considered top-round talent who fell in the draft, and the Braves picked him late and have followed him in the West Coast League this summer. They are now apparently putting on the full court press in an effort to sign the talented prep player. Sabol is committed to The University of Oregon, and their head coach has his doubts that he'll ever see him in a Ducks uniform:
Sabol, a catcher taken in the 17th round by the Braves, "sounds like he’s leaning toward signing," Horton said entering the weekend.
Sabol is the highest Atlanta selection unsigned, and the Braves "are making a run at him. … They’re offering him a significant amount of money," the UO coach added.
Wrapping up a talented player like Sabol would turn this 2010 draft for the Braves from a really good draft into one of the best drafts the team has ever had -- and this is taking into account the lack of a true first-round pick.
While this is excellent news about Sabol that many of us Braves fans have waited all summer for, one more under-draft player remains on the board. There is no word on whether the Braves will be able to lure talented second baseman Zach Alvord away from a commitment to Auburn. Alvord is the only player the Braves drafted this year from Georgia, so if they don't sign him, considering this draft a success without Atlanta signing any player from Georgia would be weird considering how the team has relied upon the state to fuel their drafts in years past.
Consider this an open thread to discuss any updated news about the Braves last minute signings. I will keep everyone updated if any news breaks about either of these guys.
0 recs | 44 comments
I'd love to see us sign Sabol, but...
…I don’t think we can honestly talk about this being a great draft or a really good draft yet. Drafts just can’t be judged this early. It takes years to know how well they really worked out.
cavebird - August 16, 2010
On paper it would be a great draft
Sabol would hopefully be immediately moved to the OF where he’d grade out as a 5 tool player.
Jay212033 - August 16, 2010
On MLBN
The guys stated that the deadline was at 11 PM EDT but 1 hour really doesn’t matter.
Also that Minnis kid would be a huge sign as well! Come on Braves don’t be cheap bring these guys home especially Alvord and Sabol!
Jay212033 - August 16, 2010
No on Minnis
Looks like a no on Albert Minnis. This is from last week:
He was an interesting kid, but very raw. The Braves might have gone after him if they weren’t able to sign some other guys.
gondeee - August 16, 2010
Dang
Would’ve been a nice sign! Thanks for the read gondee.
Jay212033 - August 16, 2010
From Kevin Goldstein last night
His tweet answer in italics:
gondeee - August 16, 2010
Hopefully
Mr. Goldstein is correct and we get at least one but i’m really, really hoping for both!
Jay212033 - August 16, 2010
Same here...
Sabol just sounds like somethin we need, another potential LF slugger. While Alvord is a Georgia boy, and it just doesn’t seem right not having a single kid from the home state in a Braves draft.
So who else is possible besides these two, as I assume Minnis, Wark, and certainly some others are definite no’s by now.
Mr. Sanchez - August 16, 2010
This FO did a great job with the draftees this year.
justincredubil02 - August 16, 2010
In case no one has heard yet, Medlen’s TJ is scheduled for Wednesday…..
MBL1 - August 16, 2010
Honestly
I think that the Braves signed as many quickly as possible and those that didn’t sign they just, well, forgot about and focused on Sabol and Alvord. If we get those two (and, from what I’ve read yesterday and today it’s looking more and more like the Braves are ponying up to pay them 1st day money (making us somewhat forgot the A. Rendon debacle)) this draft will be very very very productive for us. The position players alone int he upper minors (Leonard, Cunningham, etc.) will be replenished with the lower minor talent (Lipka, Sabol (hopefully) and Alvord (hopefully)) and we will be a very exciting organization for the next 10 years.
Here’s hoping.
apoxonbothyourhouses - August 16, 2010
How was Rendon a debacle? They drafted him and couldn’t sign him. It happens.
And most teams tend to sign all the guys they can sign quickly, then have a few they can’t sign until right at the deadline, so it’s not like this is something abnormal.
cbwilk - August 16, 2010
do you know WHY they didn't sign Rendon?
because they brought him to Atlanta and “didn’t like how he hit with wooden bats.” If that’s not a debacle, I don’t know what is.
apoxonbothyourhouses - August 16, 2010
fwiw
he’d be ready for the Majors now. To play 3B. You think we need that?
apoxonbothyourhouses - August 16, 2010
Hey, he hasn’t played with wood bats yet. We could find out eventually that they were right. Also, link or it never happened.
cbwilk - August 16, 2010
lol
seriously? ok
http://www.camdenchat.com/2010/7/14/1569176/who-is-anthony-rendon
The 5’11 Rendon was a star shortstop for Lamar High School in his native Houston, leading his team to the District 20-5A championship in 2007 as a junior and being selected as the First team 5A all-state shortstop as a senior in 2008. Rendon hoped to be selected in the fifth or sixth round of the 2008 draft, but fell all the way to the Atlanta Braves in the 27th round. The Braves flew him out to Georgia to play in a wood bat tournament, but didn’t like what they saw enough to offer him first day money, so Rendon went to school in the fall in his hometown for the Rice Owls. Rice coach Wayne Graham, who appeared in thirty games in the majors as a third baseman, thought that Rendon had the kind of defensive skills that would make him a plus defender at the hot corner.
and here’s proof that he’s GOOD with a wooden bat, hence the asinine notion of saying he’s not and not giving him the money:
http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/07/23/anthony-rendon-scouting-report-part-ii
it was a debacle. now that you’ve been proven wrong, will you shut up about it?
apoxonbothyourhouses - August 16, 2010
two things
1. grow up
2. and you might want to check out the definition of debacle….it may have been a mistep or an improper valaution of talent…however it was certainly not a debacle…. it was a mistake maybe…but these things happen all the time. A debacle is not signing the first overall pick bc you argued over $100, 000.
Swo12bv - August 16, 2010
Both of these. And still, no proof yet he can hit with a wood bat at a professional level, so the Braves may still end up being right. He may come out and mash and win MVP award after MVP award, but it certainly wasn’t a debacle. They weren’t the first team and won’t be the last to miss on a guy coming out of HS.
Also, who the heck are these guys writing these stories?
cbwilk - August 16, 2010
The fact that this kid seems to have chronic ankle problems as a 20 year old is enough to make me glad we didn’t tie a bunch of money up in him.
Rhyno18 - August 16, 2010
what?
he had one injury. and that’s “chronic ankle problems”. again, i quote cb, if you don’t link it, it didn’t happen.
apoxonbothyourhouses - August 16, 2010
This article references the fact that the ankle he just tore apart in July was the same ankle that kept him out of NCAA playoffs.
There’s your link, and 2 injuries to the same ankle means there is clearly a problem there.
Rhyno18 - August 16, 2010
bah, left out that the previous injury was in 2009.
So, to recap his career, 2009-bad ankle, surgery. 2010-bad ankle, surgery. I see a pattern here, but I’m sure you won’t
Rhyno18 - August 16, 2010
owned.
justincredubil02 - August 16, 2010
another trick in debating when you don’t have anything to add:
attack the sources.
obviously we have different opinions on what “debacle” means. let’s just leave it at that. for when the kid is a perennial all-star at a premium position (one that we don’t have any reasonable candidates in the minors) and raking and posting lines of .320/.370/.580, i’ll tell you i told you so.
apoxonbothyourhouses - August 16, 2010
You’re not telling me so, I wish they had signed him. Every time I tell somebody about Rendon I say I wish the Braves had signed him.
And yes, I have to attack your sources because your entire argument is based on them. That’s part of debate.
cbwilk - August 16, 2010
Differing opinions on the word debacle...
And one of those opinions is wrong (yours).
It’s ok to use hyperbole, but at least admit when you’re using it and when you’re not.
Almost every great college player was also drafted out of high school and didn’t sign. It hapens dozens of times every draft. Far too common to be called “a debacle.”
It was highly unfortunate that the Braves did not sign Rendon. I agree.
J-Turn14 - August 16, 2010
the most controversial part of it was his tremendous success as a freshman at rice. A lot of top college players get drafted and aren’t presently worth whatever money they’re asking for. He proved that he was an incredibly talented player right off the bat at rice.
telemakhos - August 16, 2010
+1
Bronn - August 16, 2010
lol
seriously?
were you IN the rooms? obviously, not signing a signable pick because you fear for his ability to hit wooden bats when it was evident that he could is obviously a debacle.
as for growing up? i won’t even get in to it with you.
apoxonbothyourhouses - August 16, 2010
Okay, apparently, two things just aren't enough for you. Here's some more.
3) Debacle
4) I really don’t see how this is even an issue. The Braves drafted someone who was expected to go fairly high in the draft, took some to time to scout him further, and decided that they didn’t like what they saw. That’s exactly how the process is supposed to work, isn’t it? It was a 27th round pick, so it’s not like the wasted pick is going to cripple the organization for years
5) How can you possibly know how signable the guy was? If he thought he’d be taken much earlier, he might want more money than the Braves think he’s worth. A lot of these prep players who think they’ll be taken early and then fall will end up going to college unless they get a hefty signing bonus.
Bronn - August 16, 2010
Very interesting.
One nice scouting report is now proof of something.
cavebird - August 16, 2010
one scouting report from projectprospect.com….now I don’t have anything against those guys…generally they do a lot of good work, but they are far from the authorities on baseball prospects (I don’t think anyone holds that title). this report would certainly have more wait if it was from BA, or BP, or Sickels…or any of the other top tiered prospect evaulators…but even then any single scouting report needs to be taken with a grain of salt, because it is on dude’s, or dudette’s, opinion
Swo12bv - August 16, 2010
wait….lol
Dude, that one made me laugh for real.
justincredubil02 - August 16, 2010
wow i must be off my game (or on my game depending on who you ask)
Swo12bv - August 17, 2010
Am I the only one failing to see...
any evidence of his ability with a wood bat? Has he ever played in Cape Cod or any other wood bat league?
Mr. Sanchez - August 16, 2010
I’ve not been able to find any, but I only did 20 seconds of research so I could find a link about his injury history.
Rhyno18 - August 16, 2010
Me too.
Somehow one person who likes his swing with aluminum means he can definitely hit with wood. Who knew?
MichaelProcton - August 17, 2010
Jim Callis just tweeted there’s a good chance they’ll sign one of sabol and alvord.
telemakhos - August 16, 2010
There’s been a lot of non-information opinion giving from BA this morning. Nothing news-worthy though.
gondeee - August 16, 2010
There is nothing going on...
…and BA is all geared up and ready to go, so they are just speculating like everyone else.
cavebird - August 16, 2010
Bill Shanks:
http://twitter.com/billshanks
ATLforlife - August 16, 2010
Come on Braves!!!
Don’t go the cheap route!!!
Jay212033 - August 16, 2010
Double dang it
bwellnjonesco - August 16, 2010 via mobile
I hate twitter.
Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources’ reliability.
vooodooo - August 16, 2010
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