Baseball America | Blog | Baseball America Draft Blog | Two First-Rounders Agree To Terms

Two first-rounders agreed to terms Friday. Boston College catcher Tony Sanchez, the No. 4 overall pick, accepted a $2.5 million bonus from the Pirates. Indiana righthander Eric Arnett, the No. 26 choice, will receive a $1.197 million bonus from the Brewers.

Sanchez’ deal was slightly higher than MLB’s bonus recommendations, estimated to be $2.475 million at No. 4, while Arnett’s equals MLB’s guideline at No. 26. The commissioner’s office decided to reduce all slot recommendations 10 percent from a year ago, when the industry spent a record $188 million on the draft.

Pittsburgh’s decision to pay a full-slot bonus to Sanchez is stunning. The top talents on the board at No. 4 all had asking prices significantly higher than $2.5 million, so the Pirates decided to choose a lesser player and spend more money later in the draft. Sanchez is a defensive standout but several clubs questioned his offensive potential, and Baseball America rated him the 30th-best player available in its final predraft rankings.

The only other team known to consider Sanchez in the top half of the first round was the Royals at No. 12, where the slot recommendation is an estimated $1.719 million. Bonus recommendations at the bottom of the first round, where Sanchez was projected to go, average about $1 million.

1.) The signing actually was for 2.475 million — it was just rounded up in initial reports?

2.) Stunning? Really? That’s exactly what I was expecting. The top talents always demand far over slot, so this seems fair to me.

Posted by Corey | June 13, 2009 at 11:57 am | Shortcut

Congratulations! Work hard!

Posted by Mr & Mrs Doyle | June 14, 2009 at 10:34 am | Shortcut

I am not sure if the Pirates new draft stratergy will work. I however commend the approach. Now if they do not sign any high end type talent, then we all can conclude they were reverting back to thier old plan of just saving money. The Pirates have wasted top drafting position over the last 10 plus years to save money and that is why the major league team lacks talent. How do you draft a pitcher number one, Bullington and say he would be a number 3 starter and leave BJ Upton the top talent in that draft on the board? When a team has a chance to draft this high they must take the most talented player and pay to sign them. The pick of Sanchez, who most experts say, if he can not hit, and it seems he can’t, will be a decent back up catcher, is crazy. Why pick him at 4 and why give him slot money? It is worthless to the team and continues a long standing trend to save money and not pay for top tier talent. I wish Mr. Sanchez much success but find the Pirates an organization that is unwilling to do what it takes to become a winning team and that is take the best talent and spend to sign it.

Posted by Joe Solo | June 14, 2009 at 11:30 am | Shortcut