A reminder to folks reading this . . . very, very few teams have narrowed down their search enough to figure out what exactly it is that they want in the draft. Outside of Harper, I doubt there is much close to a sure thing in the draft.
1. Washington Nationals – Bryce Harper, C, CC of Southern Nevada
Harper's place at the top of the draft has been essentially cemented. He has met and exceeded expectations in JuCo. The only real concern with him is that he has a great deal of leverage as he can go back in the draft and get what he wants. The 2012 draft is the first that could have hard slotting in place. I'm beginning to think that 10MM is likely what it will take to sign him.
2. Pittsburgh Pirates – Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Ole Miss
Three names have been floated around at this position. Surely, the Pirates are evaluating more than those, but the names right now are Pomeranz, Machado, and McGuire. Pomeranz is a polished lefty who should progress through the minors rapidly. He will probably see the Majors by the end of 2012. Deck McGuire is probably a year behind Pomeranz, but both are rather polished and are as close to known commodities as you can get in the draft. Machado, a prep SS, is likely to need much more seasoning. Of the top 20 or so prospects at the beginning of the season, he has had the most helium with evaluators like Keith Law placing him as the second most talented player. He shows good power and has a good chance to stick at shortstop.
3. Baltimore Orioles – Jameson Taillon, RHP, The Woodlands HS (TX)
At this moment, only Taillon and Machado have been mentioned in connection with the Orioles' scouts. Joe Jordan is not one to telegraph his moves and the Orioles have surprised everyone during those five years with the exception of the Matusz selection. The main difference between the two is that Taillon might command 2-3MM more than Machado.
4. Kansas City Royals – Karsten Whitson, RHP, Chipley HS (FL)
Three names have been mentioned at this slot: Whitson, Jameson Taillon, and Yasmani Grandal. Grandal would not fit the typical Royal M.O. as they are keen to draft high potential players without regard to cost. If the Orioles pass on Taillon, there is no what he drops below this point. I placed Whitson here as he is a prep with a nice low to mid 90s fastball with a great deal of movement. He is a kind of prep arm that the Royals have been targeting lately.
5. Cleveland Indians – Deck McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech
McGuire is the only name I have heard here. Indians typically do not blow the bank and they prefer dependable college talent.
6. Arizona Diamondbacks – Zack Cox, 3B, Arkansas
Arizona tends to keep on close to slot unless elite talent is available. Cox is not elite, but he has a good bat and a good chance to stick at third.
7. New York Mets – Chris Sale, LHP, Florida Gulf Coast
Mets are a team that strictly adheres to slot with respect to the whole draft. Overslot selections are reserved mainly for the later rounds. Sale is shaping up strong on many boards.
8. Houston Astros – Manny Machado, SS, Brito HS (FL)
I hesitate slightly putting Machado here because I think he will seek out an above slot bonus. The Astros and everyone Ed Wade has hired tend to put more resources in MLB level talent than in the draft. It makes me think something closer to slot would occur. If Cox gets this far, I think they nab him here.
9. San Diego Padres – Anthony Ranaudo, RHP, LSU
Padres typically go for athletic, high upside picks and Ranaudo does not exactly fit that bill. They are not shy about spending money on a player and Ranaudo might require some to sign with Boras as his agent. Before his elbow trouble, he was considered by a sizable portion of the community as the best college arm in the draft. He would be quite useful at PetCo.
10. Oakland Athletics – Bryce Brentz, OF, Middle Tennessee State
The A's also like athleticism and they like dependability. Brentz affords them both of those traits. I think if Machado falls here, they would snatch him up.
The rest...
11. Toronto Blue Jays – A.J. Cole, RHP, Oviedo HS (FL)
12. Cincinnati Reds – Dylan Covey, RHP, Maranatha HS (CA)
13. Chicago White Sox – Christian Colon, SS, Cal State Fullerton
14. Milwaukee Brewers – Yasmani Grandal, C, Miami
15. Texas Rangers – Brandon Workman, RHP, Texas
16. Chicago Cubs – Matt Harvey, RHP, Univ. of North Carolina
17. Tampa Bay Rays – Jesse Hahn, RHP, Virginia Tech
18. Los Angeles Angels – Brett Eibner, RHP, Arkansas
19. Houston Astros – Kaleb Cowart, RHP, Cook County HS (GA)
20. Boston Red Sox – Justin O’Conner, SS/C, Cowan HS (IN)
21. Minnesota Twins – Michael Choice, OF, UT Arlington
22. Texas Rangers – Kevin Gausman, RHP, Grandview HS (CO)
23. Florida Marlins – Josh Sale, OF, Bishop Blanchet HS (WA)
24. San Francisco Giants – Austin Wilson, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)
25. St. Louis Cardinals – Nick Castellanos, 3B, Archbishop McCarthy HS (FL)
26. Colorado Rockies – Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State
27. Philadelphia Phillies – Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Barstow HS (CA)
28. Los Angeles Dodgers – James Paxton, LHP, Grand Prairie (Independent)
29. Los Angeles Angels – Micah Gibbs, C, LSU
30. Los Angeles Angels – Gary Brown, OF, California St. Univ. - Fullerton
31. Tampa Bay Rays – Asher Wojciechowski, RHP, The Citadel
32. New York Yankees – Stetson Allie, RHP, St. Edwards HS (OH)
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