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Rangers Unable To Sign Purke

Posted Aug. 17, 2009 11:40 pm by John Manuel
Filed under: Signings

We tweeted this a while back, but the Rangers have sent out their official draft list of who signed and who didn’t. First-rounder Matt Purke, the lefthander out of Klein (Texas) High, did not sign and will attend Texas Christian. That could be good news for supplemental first-rounder Tanner Scheppers, also unsigned, but since he’s an indy ball guy, the deadline doesn’t apply to him.

The Rangers also failed to sign ninth-rounder Jabari Blash, a toolsy outfielder at Miami Dade CC, and 10th-rounder Thomas Lemke, a 6-foot-7 righty out of Northwest Christian High in Arizona.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 at 11:40 pm by John Manuel and is filed under Signings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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14 Comments

What happened with Grant Green?

Posted by Andy McCue | August 17, 2009 at 11:42 pm | Shortcut

We expect he signed; just trying to confirm the bonus.

Posted by John Manuel | August 17, 2009 at 11:45 pm | Shortcut

Rangers come out as a big loser today, no Purke or Blash, and Scheppers is still unsigned.

Posted by Joshua | August 17, 2009 at 11:48 pm | Shortcut

Blue Jays blow the Rangers out of the water in terms of failure.

Posted by Alex | August 17, 2009 at 11:50 pm | Shortcut

I’m with Alex. Texas does get a compensation pick for Burke, after all…

Posted by Petey Pablo | August 17, 2009 at 11:52 pm | Shortcut

I am not sure how we came out losers? Purke was given the best deal offered to a high school pitcher and he turned it down to pay for college. He also is risking about $2-3 million, because not money collegiate players (outside of a Strasburg or Ackley) receive more money than what he was offered. His loss, not ours.

Posted by Eric | August 17, 2009 at 11:54 pm | Shortcut

Sorry Purke was offered the second best deal offered to a high school pitcher, behind Jacob Turner.

Posted by Eric | August 18, 2009 at 12:40 am | Shortcut

What a moron. How close is the TCU campus to that Costco that Matt Harrington is working at? I hope this kid is a good student. It will take him a lifetime to make that kind of money in the real world when he blows his arm out playing Air Force.

Posted by Damon | August 18, 2009 at 1:03 am | Shortcut

[...] be good news for supplemental first-rounder Tanner Scheppers, also unsigned, but since he’s [...] click for more Published: August 17, 2009 Filed Under: Uncategorized Leave a Comment Name: [...]

Posted by Rangers Unable To Sign Purke : Trends | August 18, 2009 at 1:13 am | Shortcut

Purke or Garitt Cole {last year}, which was a bigger shock to not sign and who has more upside???

Posted by Mark | August 18, 2009 at 7:54 pm | Shortcut

I just can’t believe he didn’t sign, you talking about making $100,000 a month in the Minor League’s ! You have player’s that have been playing for over 8 to 10 year’s an have Big League time that haven’t made that kind of money ! Just go out an play out your contract an make more money on the back end if you play well ! I just don’t understand these’s young player’s today, they haven’t played one inning an want the world ! He also get’s a spot on the Big League roster !

Posted by Shawn | August 18, 2009 at 9:41 pm | Shortcut

It’s sad to say the least. Kids like this get lead down the wrong path by agents, sorry I mean advisors. They fill their heads with unrealistic thoughts and expectations. After all this kid is more like Jimmy Key than Randy Johnson. I certainly hope this young man doesn’t hurt himself while in college.

Posted by Hawk | August 19, 2009 at 4:18 pm | Shortcut

Matthew Purke will be just fine. Frankly, he will be better off going to college contributing to a team, maturing as a person and a player.

There is not one 10 year old kid in America dreaming of a signing bonus. They are all dreaming of playing in the big leagues.

Sitting on a bus traveling from town to town – sleeping in motels, being bored all day playing at night and sleeping in just to do it again tomorrow is not what the kids are dreaming of.

Purke is insurable through the NCAA against injury. He is going to play for a great team, enjoy college, get his education and maybe just like Strausberg hit the pros.

If not he will have his education and move on with his life.

Purke is in a better spot than most.

Posted by bbfan | August 19, 2009 at 11:32 pm | Shortcut

I found out it was a $700,000 difference, so his advisor coundn’t the deal done for $4 million an a Big League contract ! I know there or other people out there that want too talk about this !

Posted by Shawn | August 20, 2009 at 12:01 am | Shortcut

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