2011 MLB Amateur Draft Thread

[THEBOSS84]

Here is Keith Law's article from today on the 2011 draft and it's top players:

Next year's draft class looks much stronger and deeper than this year's in almost every area, with high school right-handers possibly the lone exception. There's one premium college bat, a number of top-flight college arms -- and a strong mix of prep talent across the board. While this year's draft only offered maybe eight to 10 true first-rounders -- players who'd be picked in the top 30 in almost any year -- the 2011 class could very easily see first-round talents squeezed out of that range because there's just so much talent in the country.
Let's dive into it.

College bats

Top names: Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice; George Springer, OF, UConn; Alex Dickerson, OF, Indiana; Ricky Oropesa, 1B, USC; Levi Michael, 2B, UNC; Harold Martinez, 3B, Miami; Preston Tucker, 1B, Florida; Jason Esposito, 3B, Vanderbilt; Jackie Bradley Jr., OF, South Carolina; B.A. Vollmuth, SS, Southern Miss; Matt Skole, 3B, Georgia Tech; Zach Cone, OF, Georgia; C.J. Cron, C, Utah
Rendon is the star attraction here, with a great short stroke with good follow through, outstanding plate discipline and plus defense at third. Springer, Dickerson, Cone and Bradley are all great athletes with some raw aspects at the plate but the potential for four or five tools. Skole is the older brother of Jake Skole, the Texas Rangers' first pick in this year's draft. Martinez has bounced back from a disappointing two-year stretch to re-establish himself as a premium bat in the '11 class.

Edit - I had to delete most of the article in order to adhere to the forum rules.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/draft...ith&id=5272269

[Snatch Catch]

You've been waiting for weeks to start this thread.

I wouldn't be surprised if you posted a blurry picture of you and it together when the draft started next year.

[THEBOSS84]

Bitter that I stole your thunder, saw that one coming.

Law says Sonny Gray would be in contention for first pick overall (with Rendon) if he weren't an undersized RHP.

[Snatch Catch]

Bitter that I stole your thunder, saw that one coming.

Law says Sonny Gray would be in contention for first pick overall (with Rendon) if he weren't an undersized RHP.

Please kill me when being the one to start a thread on a message board is my thunder.

I merely derive joy from pointing it out.

Law says a lot of things. I wonder if he's even seen Sonny pitch since 2008.

[Posada_20]

Yanks should tank the rest of the season in order to have another shot at Gerrit Cole.

[albo4lyfe]

Hahahahah, Gray > Cole? That's funneh.

[bmxstreetrider86]

gerrit pitching right now on ESPN 2. fastballs to the first batter of the second: 96,95,98


i dont know why i am even watching this

[Buzah!]

He's pitching angry cause his daddy didn't let him play big boy baseball like the cool kids when he had the chance.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

gerrit pitching right now on ESPN 2. fastballs to the first batter of the second: 96,95,98


i dont know why i am even watching this

Eh he would have been topping out at 91 by now if we signed him anyway.

[bmxstreetrider86]

i dont think he would be in the majors yet

[sugmasterflex]

It sounds like the top 50 picks next year are going to be awesome talents.

How about the Yanks getting some extra picks from Vazquez and Johnson?

[Posada_20]

Johnson won't even be a Type C at this point. We'll get nothing for him. Vasquez has a chance to be at least a type B if he continues to pitch well.

[Yankees1962]

Johnson won't even be a Type C at this point. We'll get nothing for him. Vasquez has a chance to be at least a type B if he continues to pitch well.

Vazquez will be a type A if he continues to pitch well.

[kan_t]

Johnson won't even be a Type C at this point. We'll get nothing for him. Vasquez has a chance to be at least a type B if he continues to pitch well.

Even though he decides to suck in the remaining season, his last season performance will make him at least a type B.

[yankee82093]

Johnson will probably be a type-B

[Matsui55]

Johnson won't even be a Type C at this point. We'll get nothing for him. Vasquez has a chance to be at least a type B if he continues to pitch well.

Next time, do some research.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/0...gs-update.html

[Posada_20]

Next time, do some research.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/0...gs-update.html

Where is Nick Johnson's name on thst list? Next time YOU do some research!

[yank4life2005]

Yanks will likely lose their 1st round pick with guys like Crawford, Werth and Lee being free agents.

[TheHugeUnit2]

Yanks will likely lose their 1st round pick with guys like Crawford, Werth and Lee being free agents.

Thats why I hope we offer Vazquez arbi

[Yanks21]

Where is Nick Johnson's name on thst list?

Click on AL 1B OF DH. Johnson is currently a type B. Obviously, there's no guarantee that he will remain as such...

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/0...gs-update.html

[Posada_20]

I highly doubt it, unless he comes back in August and has a great finish. Right now, I'm not counting on him even getting back this season with his history of injuries.

[THEBOSS84]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index...view-pitchers/ - Pitchers

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index...draft-preview/ - Hitters

[Matsui55]

Where is Nick Johnson's name on thst list? Next time YOU do some research!

Amazing.

You can't even get it right when someone gives you the whole thing.

[Matsui55]

Thats why I hope we offer Vazquez arbi

The Yanks most definitely will offer Vaz arbitration.

Think about it- in a pitching poor market (Vaz will be one of the top 3 SP- with Lee and Lilly). He's in his early 30's, is durable and will give you 12-15 wins a year. He will get multi-year offers.

Unlike Abreu and Matsui, who were looking at one-year deals, Vaz is going to get a number of multi-year offers for very good money. I suspect the Nats will give him a very big offer- pairing him with Strausburg makes them competitive in the NL East. The Mets and maybe the Braves may make offers.

Yes, the Yanks will offer Vaz arbitration, he will turn it down and sign a multi-year deal in the NL- and the Yanks will get 2 big picks.

[Matsui55]

Click on AL 1B OF DH. Johnson is currently a type B. Obviously, there's no guarantee that he will remain as such...

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/0...gs-update.html

Actually, in a little known factor of the Elias rankings, players get "credit" for time on the DL, so that their rankings don't suffer. That's why Wagner was an A level FA last year despite missing almost all of 2009 and part of 2008.

In the Yanks case, with Posada doing well at DH, and Cervelli not hurting them too much at C, the Yanks have no incentive to rush NJ back.

The problem is that the Yanks would have to offer Nick arbitration, and he almost certianly would accept. Think about it- even in a healthy year, Nick is a year-to-year guy. He won't make more money anywhere else, so he would accept arbitration in a second, so like Matsui, Damon and Abreu, the Yanks will not offer arbitration to NJ.

[Kaine]

The 2011 draft class is going to be something to behold and in my personal opinion it probably has the best top 100 talent seen in the last decade if not ever.

There is no elite talent to headline the draft as it has been the case the past two years but in Anthony Rendon and Gerrit Cole (sorry yankee fans) you have to Elite talents that are more then deserving to go 1:1.

This draft is so deep in just about every position it is difficult for any team to walk away from a big talent in the first three rounds. There is a bit of thin depth in the catching department but i wouldnt say its more so then the past two years, matter of fact if you cancel out Grandal the 2011 actually has a better catching depth then 2010 (Im not counting Harper as he was destined to the outfield).

The creme de la creme of this draft is the college pitching supply which is headed by two elite prospects followed by 10 or so very good pitching prospects. It is far too early but at the moment i would rank them as follows

1. Gerrit Cole
2. Taylor Jungmann
3. Matt Purke
4. Sonny Gray
5. Daniel Hultzen
6. Trevor Bauer (Im a huge of this guy and can easily see him rising above some of these other guys)

Throw in the likes of Jack Armstrong, Alex Meyer, Jed Bradley etc etc I could be here all day as the names would just roll of the tongue.

and thats just the pitchers then you get extremely good position players in

Jackie Bradley Jr, Levi Michael, Zach McPhee, Harold Martinez, Jason Esposito etc etc the list is endless here.

Then you get to an extremely talented class of HS players of all positions and the draft is deep in almost all perhaps not so much in right handed pitchers but with elite HS talents like Daniel Norris, Henry Owens, Travis Harrison, Eric Snyder, Dylan Bundy available likely in the first round alone this is getting exciting.

For all clubs, fans and draft affiocanodo's like myself in particular there's only one image that fits the anticipation which we should have for next years draft

[jesterno2]

Amen. The sad thing is that I can't really see any scenario in which we will actually get extra picks outside of the Javy arbitration situation. I agree with Matsui55 that NJ probably either won't be offered or would accept arbitration, so no picks there. I can't see any of Jeter, Mo, or Andy going anywhere else, let alone being offered arbitration, so no picks there. We don't have any other FA worth anything of value so no reason to even bring them up.

I love having Javy back but the prospect of having extra first and supp round picks in this draft are too tempting to pass on. The only thing I wonder about is which team would be willing to give up a 1st round pick to get Javy with this type of talent in the draft, although a top 15 pick would be protected from the Yanks.

Either way this draft and offseason will be one of the more exciting in a while to follow.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

Amen. The sad thing is that I can't really see any scenario in which we will actually get extra picks outside of the Javy arbitration situation. I agree with Matsui55 that NJ probably either won't be offered or would accept arbitration, so no picks there. I can't see any of Jeter, Mo, or Andy going anywhere else, let alone being offered arbitration, so no picks there. We don't have any other FA worth anything of value so no reason to even bring them up.

I love having Javy back but the prospect of having extra first and supp round picks in this draft are too tempting to pass on. The only thing I wonder about is which team would be willing to give up a 1st round pick to get Javy with this type of talent in the draft, although a top 15 pick would be protected from the Yanks.

Either way this draft and offseason will be one of the more exciting in a while to follow.

And, on top of all that, hopefully we are picking last in the first round

[SLURPEE]

Can you imagine if the Orioles end up drafting Cole? Ugh, that will hurt.

I wish nothing but bad things to happen to Cole's daddy.

[THEBOSS84]

The Yanks most definitely will offer Vaz arbitration.

Think about it- in a pitching poor market (Vaz will be one of the top 3 SP- with Lee and Lilly). He's in his early 30's, is durable and will give you 12-15 wins a year. He will get multi-year offers.

Unlike Abreu and Matsui, who were looking at one-year deals, Vaz is going to get a number of multi-year offers for very good money. I suspect the Nats will give him a very big offer- pairing him with Strausburg makes them competitive in the NL East. The Mets and maybe the Braves may make offers.

Yes, the Yanks will offer Vaz arbitration, he will turn it down and sign a multi-year deal in the NL- and the Yanks will get 2 big picks.

He'll be 34 in July, which means he'll be 35 three months into his next deal. I don't think it's the slam dunk that you're making it out to be. Sure he'll be the second best pitcher on the market. But he'll also be looking at a guaranteed $12-13M if he accepts arbitration. Is there that much guaranteed money out there for him from another team? Secondly, let's just assume for a moment that the Yankees #1 target would be Lee. Do you risk having JV accept arbitration which in turn prohibits you from offering Lee a contract (assuming Pettitte returns)? Not a slam dunk by any stretch. Let's also not forget he topped out at 88 the other day, albeit in a fairly decent start.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

He'll be 34 in July, which means he'll be 35 three months into his next deal. I don't think it's the slam dunk that you're making it out to be. Sure he'll be the second best pitcher on the market. But he'll also be looking at a guaranteed $12-13M if he accepts arbitration. Is there that much guaranteed money out there for him from another team? Secondly, let's just assume for a moment that the Yankees #1 target would be Lee. Do you risk having JV accept arbitration which in turn prohibits you from offering Lee a contract (assuming Pettitte returns)? Not a slam dunk by any stretch. Let's also not forget he topped out at 88 the other day, albeit in a fairly decent start.

I think a lot depends on his finish -whether he continues to prove to be a top of the rotation guy -- as well as what Andy does and how much they want Lee. Cashman has consisently shown to be risk averse in this situation (not offering arb) and it's worked for him. If Andy retires and they want to go full bore after Lee, perhaps Cashman persuades Hal to take the one year risk on Javy, as we can slot him into the 5th slot if he does sign with us. If Andy comes back, it will be interesting

[Matsui55]

He'll be 34 in July, which means he'll be 35 three months into his next deal. I don't think it's the slam dunk that you're making it out to be. Sure he'll be the second best pitcher on the market. But he'll also be looking at a guaranteed $12-13M if he accepts arbitration. Is there that much guaranteed money out there for him from another team? Secondly, let's just assume for a moment that the Yankees #1 target would be Lee. Do you risk having JV accept arbitration which in turn prohibits you from offering Lee a contract (assuming Pettitte returns)? Not a slam dunk by any stretch. Let's also not forget he topped out at 88 the other day, albeit in a fairly decent start.

Sure will be.

Look at the teams that want/need SP this winter. The Yanks, Mets, Nats, maybe the Dodgers (if ownership gets sorted out) and the Rangers. We can also probably include the following as at least checking the prices- the Phillies and the Mariners (will be in on Lee at least).

That already exceeds the number of decent SP available, and that even assumes that teams might consider Brandon Webb to be healthy.

Vasquez has not had less than 30 starts in over a decade- that's the kind of durability that teams pay for. He will get 3-4 years at about $10-12M per, with the possibility of 5 years $14M if someone (Nats, Mets) get desperate.

Besides, ignore the FB readings with Vaz- he's not a power pitcher- he relies more on his assortment of pitches to get hitters out. He also knows already that he's an NL pitcher- that's where his success has been.

Yes, Vaz will get a multi-year deal. So will Lilly and Lee.

[SLURPEE]

If Gerrit Cole wanted to sign with the Yankees (and indications are that he did) shouldn't that have been his decision, not his father's?

He was 18. Old enough to make his own decisions. I don't get it.

[Yankees1962]

If Gerrit Cole wanted to sign with the Yankees (and indications are that he did) shouldn't that have been his decision, not his father's?

He was 18. Old enough to make his own decisions. I don't get it.

Maybe, it's as simple as the kid changing his mind and deciding he wants to experience college life first before becoming a professional ballplayer.

[bmxstreetrider86]

wasnt cole 17 when he was drafted?


not that i think it wasnt up to him (and my age math is terrible) but he turned 18 in september of 2008

[awy]

with the yankees' permanent low draft position, it seems that their strategy is to exploit the scouting resource advantage and get in on guys with high ceilings but somehow slipped through the scouting cracks. as such, i don't really think they'll be in play for all the Big Name guys that become widely known a year early. let's see what they do when the time comes.

[NYDCYankee]

Amen. The sad thing is that I can't really see any scenario in which we will actually get extra picks outside of the Javy arbitration situation. I agree with Matsui55 that NJ probably either won't be offered or would accept arbitration, so no picks there. I can't see any of Jeter, Mo, or Andy going anywhere else, let alone being offered arbitration, so no picks there. We don't have any other FA worth anything of value so no reason to even bring them up.

I love having Javy back but the prospect of having extra first and supp round picks in this draft are too tempting to pass on. The only thing I wonder about is which team would be willing to give up a 1st round pick to get Javy with this type of talent in the draft, although a top 15 pick would be protected from the Yanks.

Either way this draft and offseason will be one of the more exciting in a while to follow.

With the way Andy has pitched this year, I think it would be silly not to offer him arbitration this year. I think will have some teams that would be interested in him that he may consider (Mets, Rangers) and with the way he has performed this year he may want more than he made this year. So you offer him arb.

[Matsui55]

With the way Andy has pitched this year, I think it would be silly not to offer him arbitration this year. I think will have some teams that would be interested in him that he may consider (Mets, Rangers) and with the way he has performed this year he may want more than he made this year. So you offer him arb.

While this may be true, I think it will be the Yanks or retire for Pettitte. Sure, they'll offer arbitration, just in case, but he's year to year anyway now, so there is little risk in offering arbitration.

[dpbddd99]

Cole discusses being drafted by Yankees.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/?p=3667

[Yankees1962]

Cole discusses being drafted by Yankees.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/?p=3667

Very interesting comments from Cole.

He didn't sign with the Yankees that year as the No. 28 pick in the draft. Naturally, Cole says, he heard about it from Yankees fans at first. "I didn't seek it out," he said, "but right off the bat I heard from them. But it's no big deal."

Cole said Monday that he holds no animosity toward the Yankees whatsoever; in fact, it's quite the opposite.

"Negotiations were 100 percent good," he said. "They knew how we felt, we knew how they felt. It's just how it turned out.

"Actually, Damon Oppenheimer (the Yankees' scouting director) called me before this season started to wish me luck. For him to do that just shows how much class he has and the organization has. I couldn't have asked to have been drafted by a better organization. It's the best organization in pro sports, and it's built on class."

[jeter62375]

Very interesting comments from Cole.

kid's lying, he's a dbag.

[Januz]

Very interesting comments from Cole.

This guy did not want to play for the Yankees, that is pure, plain, and simple. Even Cashman said "Scott (Boras) was not responsible". If they knew he did not want to sign, the NEVER would have drafted him (They got lucky with Heathcott the following year). He may be the biggest phoney in sports (Bigger than JD Drew)/

[Yankees1962]

This guy did not want to play for the Yankees, that is pure, plain, and simple. Even Cashman said "Scott (Boras) was not responsible". If they knew he did not want to sign, the NEVER would have drafted him (They got lucky with Heathcott the following year). He may be the biggest phoney in sports (Bigger than JD Drew)/

He might be a phoney, but he probably thinks some Yankee fans are a$$holes.

[Posada_20]

A red flag should have gone up right away after he was drafted when he blew off a conference call with the media to go play golf.

[kan_t]

This guy did not want to play for the Yankees, that is pure, plain, and simple. Even Cashman said "Scott (Boras) was not responsible". If they knew he did not want to sign, the NEVER would have drafted him (They got lucky with Heathcott the following year). He may be the biggest phoney in sports (Bigger than JD Drew)/

Or he wants to play for the Yankees, but he also wants to have a degree and university life.

[Posada_20]

Or he wants to play for the Yankees, but he also wants to have a degree and university life.

Well, he obviously won't have both cause theres no way he makes it to the Yanks now, unless he blows out his arm and he drops to the Yanks due to injury concerns.

[kan_t]

Well, he obviously won't have both cause theres no way he makes it to the Yanks now, unless he blows out his arm and he drops to the Yanks due to injury concerns.

Yes he can have both. He can always play for the Yankees later, if he can succeed in the major.

[Yankees1962]

A red flag should have gone up right away after he was drafted when he blew off a conference call with the media to go play golf.

Even then it was too late which is one of the reasons why the Yankees now employ mental conditioning guys to interview players prior to the draft to help determine their readiness for professional ball.

[Januz]

Or he wants to play for the Yankees, but he also wants to have a degree and university life.

He would play for the Yankees................... If they PAID him exponentially more than anyone else would. He should demand that he will only sign with the Braves or Giants (Then he would have a chance to play Augusta or Pebble Beach to practice his golf game on ).

[Januz]

Yes he can have both. He can always play for the Yankees later, if he can succeed in the major.

Is it possible he will play for the Yankees? Yes it is here are the odds <.05%.That bridge is already burned. Just like Drew and the Phillies.