Per Baseball America, MLB has re-reinterpreted a rule that has a (slight) impact on the Nationals in this year’s draft.
This is the first year in which teams will receive a compensation choice for failing to sign second-round picks. The Braves get a pick for not signing Georgia righthander Joshua Fields (now back with the Bulldogs) and the Red Sox get one for not landing Alabama high school first baseman Hunter Morris (now at Auburn).
Initially, MLB said the two clubs would receive choices corresponding to the ones immediately following their picks from 2007. That gave Atlanta the 70th overall pick and Boston the 85th overall pick.
During the offseason, MLB reinterpreted the rule and decided that the teams would get choices corresponding to the ones immediately following their place in the second round last June. That gave the Braves the sixth pick in the second round (No. 52 overall) and the Red Sox the 21st pick in the round (No. 67 overall).
Earlier this month, MLB reversed course and decided that its first interpretation was correct. Atlanta will get the No. 70 choice and Boston will get the No. 85 choice.
Long story short. The Nationals see their 2008 2nd round selection move from #56 to #55 (complete draft order here).
No other Nats picks change.
No major impact.
Tofu Dog | 25-Apr-08 at 1:43 pm | Permalink
I thought on what is a slow day I would go back to your affinity for Buster Posey. I see why now that I look up his stats at FSU this season. But BA in discussing the Rays thoughts on their first pick are very conscious of what their system currently contains. They are rich in pitching and corner IF so they might take Posey since they are weak at Catcher.
I believe that makes sense and therefore cannot see the Nationals failing to address their lack of middle infield depth in the minors and the imminent departures in the majors as well. They cannot draft the best catcher available without regard to their existing stock of players, its strengths and weaknesses. Flores may not be Jorge Posada as some pundit predicted after last season, but he projects pretty well both offensively and defensively. We have Montz starting to come on and while he may be a long shot, we have options with higher upside than Ian Desmond’s at the position. I don’t pretend to know whether Gordon Beckham is the next coming of Matt LaPorta or not, but he is very convincing. I cannot see how we can pass on the best middle infielder in the draft at #9 and a college player who is close as well. The needs within the system have to figure into the equation and pitching–maybe a closer–and middle infield are the glaring weaknesses as I see them.
Brian Oliver | 25-Apr-08 at 1:54 pm | Permalink
TD - I understand your point and if either of the Beckhams are there (Tim or Gordon), it would be tempting. Tim is a no-brainer if he’s sitting out there at #9. While Gordon is a bit more of a debatable point.
Tampa can make the Posey selection because they are significantly deeper at SP and IF than the Nationals. By leaps and bounds. They can afford to make that type of move.
The Nationals are still not very deep. If Brian Matusz or Aaron Crow are sitting out there with Gordon Beckham at #9, I’d hope they’d go after either of the SPs because they are arguably the better players from a scouting standpoint and the Nationals cannot afford the luxury of drafting for need when there are premium players on the board.
Tofu Dog | 25-Apr-08 at 3:57 pm | Permalink
If Matusz or Crow slip to nine, there should be champaign flowing. Thanks.
chris | 25-Apr-08 at 4:22 pm | Permalink
I agree with Brian, you cant compare the Rays drafting style to ours. The Rays have the best and deepest farm system in the league with prospects much closer to the big leagues. Outside of LHPs, the Nats need help everywhere and thus have to take BPA
Greg | 25-Apr-08 at 4:49 pm | Permalink
Well, when you’re the Rays it’s nice to be drafting in the top 5 for seven of the last nine drafts