IBC

Please keep all draft discussions in this thread to keep the draft thread cleaner. As mentioned in a previous post, early drafting is underway. The clock will *not* begin until 2/15.

I hear Sasaki might do a Valentines Day signing with the Red Sox...

Ichiro Cano Hernandez just signed with the Reds. He's available.

Orioles wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 1:39 pm Ichiro Cano Hernandez just signed with the Reds. He's available.

https://www.mlb.com/news/reds-sign-ichi ... -hernandez

Marlins wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2024 6:44 pm I hear Sasaki might do a Valentines Day signing with the Red Sox...

From the Athletic ...

Japanese high school baseball phenom Rintaro Sasaki signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Stanford, the team announced via social media on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:

Sasaki, 6 feet tall and 250 pounds, was projected to be the top pick in the NPB draft before he made his decision to forgo it, according to multiple reports.

The 17-year-old hit a Japanese high school record of 140 home runs.

Sasaki played first base at Hanamaki-Higashi High, where his father Hiroshi Sasaki coaches. MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani attended the same high school and was also coached by the elder Sasaki.

Sasaki’s potential path to MLB

Sasaki’s decision is relatively unprecedented. Last year, Rikuu Nishida was selected in the 11th round of the MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox. Nishida was born and raised in Japan but elected to play his collegiate ball in the U.S., first suiting up for two seasons at Mt. Hood (Ore.) Community College before spending his junior season at Oregon. Nishida wasn’t nearly as high-profile a prospect in Japan as Sasaki, however.

Sasaki’s path to the major leagues could be expedited by playing in the U.S. He could be eligible for the MLB Draft as early as 2027. Had he been drafted in the NPB, he would have to receive permission from his Japanese club to be “posted,” a system that allows NPB players to be signed by MLB teams. Players need at least nine years of service time in the NPB before they can freely sign with MLB teams.

Sasaki could have also elected to try to sign with an MLB team as an amateur free agent, but his bonus would have been limited by the international bonus pool caps that each MLB team is bound by. Traditionally, MLB organizations have refrained from scouting and signing Japanese amateur players in deference to their relationship with the NPB.

Now that Sasaki plans to play college baseball at Stanford, he would be MLB Draft-eligible in three years, which wouldn’t grant him free agency, of course, but would give him a quicker entry to the MLB system and potentially a higher signing bonus than one he would have received as an amateur free agent, assuming he goes in the top two rounds. — Melissa Lockard, MLB editor

No doubt, Max Clark would have been the "smart" choice getting more probable future value but the Padres stick to this year's theme of attempting to get a play off team together for 2024 and select 30 year (and Dan Sz darling) LHP Shota Imanaga with his 3.55 ERA, 145/40 K/BB (137.0 IP), 117 ERA+ projection ...

If need be, the Padres are prepared to go with a six man, albeit older, rotation even while we wait for Cobb to come back:

SP - Shane Bieber 3.52, 151/37 (148.3), 119 ERA+
... Shota Imanaga* 3.55 ERA, 145/40 K/BB (137.0 IP), 117 ERA+
... Justin Verlander 3.85 ERA, 119/46 K/BB (147.3 IP), 106 ERA+
... Charlie Morton 4.09, 166/64 (149.7), 106 ERA+
... Braxton Garrett* 4.02, 125/39 (136.7) 105 ERA+
... Alex Cobb 3.84, 121/45 (136.0), 106 ERA+ - initially on IL/hip labrum surgery
... Allan Winans 4.34, 100/35 (120.3) 100 ERA+

Granted I haven’t been super active to know specific team situations, but I was sure Yamamoto was going 1 and that I’d get whichever outfielder Nate didn’t take along with Skenes. Very pleasantly surprised to get him at 4. Also shocked at how pitching heavy my system has gotten. Anyone wanna send me a hitting prospect with power?

Giants wrote: ↑Wed Feb 14, 2024 11:05 pm Granted I haven’t been super active to know specific team situations, but I was sure Yamamoto was going 1 and that I’d get whichever outfielder Nate didn’t take along with Skenes. Very pleasantly surprised to get him at 4. Also shocked at how pitching heavy my system has gotten. Anyone wanna send me a hitting prospect with power?

Having the 2nd overall this year was really a good spot for me. I figured Ty was going with Langford, unless he traded the pick - which meant Yamamoto at 1 to whoever moved up. Either way, I'm a happy camper. To land the 3 pick and be able to get Crews in this draft as well is icing on the cake.

Now, had Yamamoto gone #1, would I have taken Skenes with one of those picks? I'd have definitely considered it. But I think I would ultimately have leaned going with both Langford and Crews instead.

Nice pick. Almost took Eldridge at 11.

Glad to get a hitting prospect with power out of this draft!

Glad the 57/59 pick snafu got caught early ... No harm done. Phillies are up for 59 ...

Godammit. I fucking knew Perryman would tear up my draft board with those 3 consecutive picks. Knew it.

Orioles wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 8:16 am Godammit. I fucking knew Perryman would tear up my draft board with those 3 consecutive picks. Knew it.

Orioles wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 8:16 am Godammit. I fucking knew Perryman would tear up my draft board with those 3 consecutive picks. Knew it.

I have been thinking the same thing about this:

It's St. Patrick's day and I'm three sheets so this pick will have to wait. Sorry.

Take Maels Fucking Rodriguez

Marlins wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 5:19 pm Take Maels Fucking Rodriguez

Hahahahahah.

Who's up? What's happening? The draft is falling apart at the end.

Technically Nationals are skipped and Angels are on the clock. I’ll be on the clock in the morning once they’re skipped.

Reds last valid pick at 3/22 7:26
Nationals skipped 3/23 7:26, Angels now on the clock
Angels will be skipped at 3/24 7:26. Blue Jays up at that time.

BlueJays wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 10:48 pm Reds last valid pick at 3/22 7:26
Nationals skipped 3/23 7:26, Angels now on the clock
Angels will be skipped at 3/24 7:26. Blue Jays up at that time.

Yep, then Brewers, White Sox, Cubs, Blue Jays and this marathon will finally be over.

Blue Jays pass on #150, and are done drafting.

Not to upset Perryman…but is this where we say we want to add a pick?

I want 1 more.

I do too

I thought we agreed the draft would not be extended any longer. I will look for the thread after I finish clearing the 19 inches of white stuff we got yesterday. Or I might just have a couple nips and watch the new Roadhouse movie. Possibilities abound.