The Blue Jays have until August 17 – one week – to sign players drafted in the 2009 amateur draft. Toronto has 23 players left unsigned from the draft, although 12 of them were selected in the 39th through 50th round. However, the first five selections still remain unsigned, as does the team’s sixth round pick.
The team’s first round pick, Chad Jenkins, a right-handed pitcher from Kennesaw State University, was taken 20th overall and has not been signed. I am not particularly worried about Jenkins signing, as I think he is waiting for some of the pitchers selected ahead of him to set the market. College pitchers were selected at 8 (Mike Leake) and 15 (Alex White), and high-school pitchers were selected 6, 9, 11, 14, 18 and 19. Mike Minor was selected at seventh and has recently signed and I’m ignoring Drew Storen, who was a college closer and has already signed.
Apparently the slot recommendations are 10% lower than last year due to economic considerations and Selig is attempting to hold hard to those suggestions. Some of the unsigned players have indicated they aren’t asking for astronomical contracts, but are asking for numbers around the slot numbers from last year. I anticipate that a bunch of those mid-round pitchers will eventually sign, including Jenkins.
That list also ignores Stephen Strasburg, who is a whole different conversation. He, of course, remains unsigned and apparently he and the Nationals remain far apart and haven’t talked often recently. There has been no change in the public stance about Boras’ request for a $50 million bonus. However, Strasburg isn’t the only high-profile draft pick who hasn’t signed. Dustin Ackley, the second overall pick, is apparently far apart in his negotiations with the Seattle Mariners. Third overall pick, Donavan Tate, has reported to football camp at the University of North Carolina and there is a reasonable chance he may not sign. Three pitchers selected in the top 10, Zach Wheeler, Leake and Jacob Turner, remain unsigned along with 12 other first rounders not including Jenkins.
Speaking of Boras, there are more questions concerning the Jays supplemental first-round pick, Boras client and Canadian James Paxton from the University of Kentucky. High school pitchers Jake Eliopoulos and Jake Barrett, a lefty from Newmarket and a righty from Arizona respectively, are still without contracts, as is outfielder Jake Marisnick from Riverside, California.
Complete List of Unsigned Jays Draft Picks:
Rd 1. Chad Jenkins, RHP, Kennesaw State University
Rd 1s. James Paxton, LHP, University of Kentucky
Rd 2. Jake Eliopoulos, LHP, Newmarket, Ontario (HS)
Rd 3. Jake Barrett, RHP, Mesa, Arizona (HS)
Rd 3s.Jake Marisnick, OF, Riverside, California (HS)
Rd 6. K.C. Hobson, OF, Bakersfield, California (HS)
Rd 15. Drew Hutchison, RHP, Lakeland, Florida (HS)
Rd 18. Daniel Webb, RHP, Northwest Florida State JC
Rd 21. Kurt Giller, RHP, Manhattan, Kansas (HS)
Rd 30. Tim McDonald, OF, Fresno, California (HS)
Rd 33. Robert Benincasa, RHP, Seffner, California (HS)
Rd 39. Josh Lucas, RHP, Lakeland, Florida (HS)
Rd 40. Jonathan Gilbert, OF, Ahuntisic (Quebec) JC
Rd 41. Zach Kirsey, OF, Louisana State-Eunice JC
Rd 42. Michael Reeves, C, Peterborough, Ontario (HS)
Rd 43. Maxx Tissenbaum, SS, Toronto, Ontario (HS)
Rd 44. Nick Wagner, OF, Rancho Santa Margarita, California (HS)
Rd 45. Brandon Kaye, RHP, Douglas, British Columbia (HS)
Rd 46. Carlos Castro, 3B, Lon Morris (Texas) JC
Rd 47. John Rigg, OF, St. Petersburg (Florida) JC
Rd 48. Jeff Gibbs, RHP, Scarborough, Ontario (HS)
Rd 49. Tommy Collier, RHP, San Jacinto (Texas) JC
Rd 50. Burke Seifrit, RHP, Surrey, British Columbia (HS)
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