Bleacher Bums Forum

Keith Law with a piece that DBacks considering underslotting the #1 pick, such as HS catcher Tyler Stephenson, and reports on guys that other clubs may have a focus. 

Law says Cubs have an interest in HS outfielder Trenton Clark.

If we assume, for the moment, that Arizona takes {Tyler} Stephenson or Garrett Whitley or someone else similarly "off the board" for a significant discount with the first pick, here's what might happen afterward: The Astros pick second and fifth and will take Dansby Swanson with the first of those two picks; they're not as high on Brendan Rodgers, the top player on my board. The Rockies would like a pitcher at No. 3, which could be the spot for Dillon Tate to be taken. The Rangers at No. 4 have been linked to Walker Buehler, although I'm guessing they'd take Rodgers if he got that far.

The Astros want two position players with their two picks, and also seem to be particularly high on Daz Cameron, whose realistic range is 5 through about 15. The Twins, picking sixth, like Kolby Allard, and why wouldn't they? Several scouts and execs have told me the Red Sox wouldn't pass on Alex Bregman at 7, while the White Sox want a college arm at 8 and would have multiple options, including Kyle Funkhouser, Tyler Jay and maybe Nate Kirby. The Cubs (ninth pick) could be on Texas prep outfielder Trenton Clark, although various players have been named as possibilities there.

The Reds, drafting 11th, were also high on Tyler Stephenson on Friday and have shown strong interest; the last time they took a prep catcher in the first round, he ended up an All-Star (Devin Mesoraco). The Marlins (12th pick) have been strongly tied to Kyle Tucker, while later on in the draft, the Brewers (15th) are in on Tristan Beck. The Yankees (16) have been linked to Tennessee prep right-hander Donny Everett, while the Tigers, picking 22nd, are heavy on Stephenson and Jacob Nix. The Blue Jays, who lost their own first-round selection (for signing Russell Martin) but do have a compensation pick at 29 (for losing Melky Cabrera), are said to be targeting high school outfielder Eric Jenkins and prep right-handers Brady Singer and Justin Maese at 29 and 56.

Of course, most of this is just about general interest rather than definite intent, and if the Diamondbacks do something really wacky like, say, taking the best or second-best player on the board, that could throw the next half-dozen picks off.

That's Austin Riley pitching to Clark in the 2nd AB, striking him out.

We lit him up in Atlanta earlier this spring.

He's a very good pitcher, but a better hitter.

That's Austin Riley pitching to Clark in the 2nd AB, striking him out.

We lit him up in Atlanta earlier this spring.

He's a very good pitcher, but a better hitter.

Exactly how good is your boy to be playing with kids like this?

I aint hating.

I hope he plays for the Cubs one day.

We have 12 seniors on our baseball team.

10 are playing ball at the next level...4 D1 and 6 D2. One is playing football at Memphis, and the other is going to be a student at Arkansas.

My son had several D2 offers, and several D1 schools were interested, but wanted him to go juco to prove his shoulder has recovered from his labrum surgery.

He started the season playing 2B, but the coaches moved him to 3B after 5 games or so. The shoulder is fine as long as he does band work before each game to loosen up.

He signed with D2 CBU here in Memphis back in the fall. Great school, loved the coaching staff and players (and incoming class), and wanted to stay close to home.

As far as his team, we played IMG Academy (think Brady Aiken) in that same tournament in Atlanta (at Perfect Game) and lost 4-2. 3 unearned in the 1st cost us...we actually outhit and outplayed them. I think they are #8 in the country right now. Austin Riley's team, Desoto Central is top 20 nationwide as well, and we shut them out with our #4 pitcher on the hill...

MLB Pipeline (Callis and Mayo) have a new top 30 international signings ranking up now.

Cubs are favorites to land six of the 30: 

Yonathan Perlaza-9

Younathan Sierra Estiwal-13

Aramis Ademan- 16

Anderson Amarista-17 (co-favorite with WSox)

Miguel Amaya-23

Christoper Martinez-26

http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=int

MLB Pipeline (Callis and Mayo) have a new top 30 international signings ranking up now.

Cubs are favorites to land six of the 30: 

Yonathan Perlaza-9

Younathan Sierra Estiwal-13

Aramis Ademan- 16

Anderson Amarista-17 (co-favorite with WSox)

Miguel Amaya-23

Christoper Martinez-26

http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=int

Interesting that the Cubs could be losing another top signee to the White Sox on this list in Anderson Amarista.  Sierra is a new name since McDaniel's article being attached to the Cubs.  McDaniel listed him in the other category of someone that might get a million or less.  This year seems to be much more fluid than in the past. 

If Amarista did sign with the White Sox that would be 3 players this year that the Cubs were rumored to have deals with that fell through.  The other two would be Heredia (3) and Celestino ( 8 ).  Those 2 would have made that list a lot more interesting.