"Stranger things have happened," LSU coach Paul Mainieri said Sunday night. "But I'm anticipating he's going to sign."
Mahtook, a junior outfielder from St. Thomas More, was the 31st player taken in the first round last June by Tampa Bay. He received a significant offer from the team a month ago, Mainieri said, but turned it down.
"I'm sure they'll give him a significantly more amount, and I'm not anticipating him turning it down," said Mainieri, who has spoken with Mahtook often in recent days and weeks. "He loves LSU, but he has to do what's best for himself. I don't want him to feel like he would be letting LSU down."
Monday, August 15, 2011
Draft Update: 1/31 Mikie Mahtook
Here is the latest on 1st rounder Mikie Mahtook, an outfielder out of Louisiana State:
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This is good news! Is Guerrieri going to sign? Doesn't seem likely.
ReplyDeleteSo they offered Mahtook a contract about a month ago. I believe Guerrieri said last week he still hadn't been offered a contract. Is that standard?
ReplyDeleteEvery draft pick is offered a standard, boilerplate minor league contract within 14 days of the June draft. If a team doesn't that pick becomes a free agent. The Rays benefited from that in the late '90s when they signed free agents after other teams didn't tender a contract in time.
ReplyDeleteWhat players mean to say is they haven't received the actual signing bonus offer. Guerrieri received a contract in June, they just didn't start negotiating the signing bonus at that time.
I'm a litle ahead of things, but where do you think they would assign him, if he signs, and would TB let him play? or does he need a certain amount of practice days before stepping on the field.
ReplyDeletePlayers who haven't signed yet may not play at all this year. GCL Rays end on the 27th, Princeton on the 30th, all the rest September 4th or 5th.
ReplyDeleteUsually the players go to the complex in Port Charlotte after they sign and then the team decides where to send them. If he signed earlier he would probably have gone to Hudson Valley.
With so little time left it would probably be one of the local teams, GCL Rays or Charlotte Stone Crabs. Doubt they would let him play in high-A, so maybe a few at-bats in the GCL before the season ends 8/27.
Once the season is over the next action is at fall instructs.
Saw this from yesterday from South Carolina, which matches what I've heard re Guerrieri:
ReplyDeleteThe Gamecocks also are upbeat over the chances of signee OF Tanner English enrolling in school. However, their top signee, RHP Taylor Guerrieri, is not expected to enroll. He was the first round pick of Tampa Bay and will either sign with the Rays or enroll in a junior college.
send the top picks to bowling green
ReplyDeleteDoes the team get a compensated draft pick next year for any draftee not signed this year or does that rule go into effect in the 2012 draft
ReplyDeleteMahtook is the must sign, he has proven himself in the strongest college conference. Guerrieri is probably very talented but has not faced top flight competition yet. Hopefully both will sign but I would rather have the safe bet which is Mahtook. Tampa Bay has a whole stable of high priced high school draftees that have failed to measure up to their bonuses.
ReplyDeleteAnon: The Rays will be compensated for not signing any player (in the first three rounds, so nothing for 5th rounder JD Davis) with a pick next year. But next year it would be unprotected and they'd have to sign that pick. Like last year, pick #31 was unprotected since it was compensation for not signing Levon Washington in 2009. Had the Rays not signed Justin O'Conner, taken at #31, they would not have gotten a 2011 pick.
ReplyDeleteIt is very doubtful the Rays would get a player as highly ranked as Guerrieri in that draft spot next year.Anyway the Rays try to spin this if they don't sign him,it would have to be considered a mistake.
ReplyDeleteJust to add to what Kevin said, this assumes that compensation for unsigned picks remains part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that has to be drafted and signed after this season. I think it will, because it gives teams leverage against draft picks, and the players union doesn't care since draft picks aren't MLB players. But we won't know for sure until the new CBA is approved.
ReplyDeleteAnon: no way of knowing who they might get with a comp pick for Guerrieri in next years draft. I would guess that player would be almost "as highly ranked", since it will be at #25 overall.
ReplyDeleteBut I agree you would have to consider the Guerrieri pick a "mistake" if he doesn't sign. The question is how big of a mistake, maybe they found out some things about him after the draft that worried them (still on them for not knowing, but could explain). Or maybe he asked for ridiculous money (still on them for not knowing his demands).
Guess I'm saying there are different kinds of mistakes, maybe this one won't look as bad in hindsight if he doesn't sign.
But there are still over 6 hours left, let's see if he signs before we start arguing over how bad the Rays screwed up by drafting him.