Draft update: Scheppers not ruled out

Could it be that Miller was the backup plan for Gagnon and not Scheppers?

This is probably a little premature and we're not privy to the details. But this is the internet, so: Do you care if Scheppers signs?

I guess anybody is more than we have now and all things considered it's not that much cash. But, if we appear reckless in signing a pig in a poke, do we set a dangerous precedent for following drafts?

With the shoulder injury, he can't seriously think that he's going to get an offfer in-line with what he would get if was un-injured?

Dejan

Given the high amounts of $$$ seemingly being shelled out for prospects, would you expect any backlash from current players (Nate, RyanD, etc) given their present salary positions? and can this info be used by the players as "evidence" for negotiations when they are up for arbitration?

Keep 'em coming, Dejan.  If we get Scheppers AND Alvarez before midnight.....what a great draft !

Is there any scenario under which NOT signing makes sense for Scheppers?

By not signing he would return to a team that while the defending NCAA Champions have a manager who is notorious for grinding pitchers to a fine powder...

Would he have access to the same level of medical care that he would receive with PGH?

Could he expect coming off of a labrum injury hope to be drafted even as high as he was this year?  

In other words from a $$$ stand point has he hit his highwater mark due to the shoulder issue?

"Is there any scenario under which NOT signing makes sense for Scheppers?"

Matt Harrington says, "No."

Wilbur, your refresh button wearing down like mine ?

Hope not.  Still hours to go.

@WTM,

Agreed...I gotta think that his agent (advisor) has to have that in mind as well.  Especially since he needs to protect his 10%!

In my own ignorant opinion, I think the signings to date speak volumes about the Pirates' thoughts about how likely it is that they'll sign Scheppers.

first ever post good people... left the 'burgh in the 80s, but never lost the love for our Buccos.

My hunch is that both Sheppers and Alvarez will be inked tonight.

Can't imagine either turning down the offer, how can Alvarez possibly improve his position in next years draft? Even if he hits a ton, he'll have no college ball to fall back on, correct?

I did travel to Rome, GA last night to watch the Braves middle A team take on Hagerstown (Nats A). Braves had their last 2 number 1 picks batting 3rd and 4th. It was neat to see how at least physically, these 2 (Heyward and C. Johnson) looked like MLB players. It made me even more interested to see how Alvarez will look next year in our system.

My buddy and I didn't see one player that the Nats had that looked very good. Their best player was a 25 yr old 1B (Pahuta), who was hurt last year. 25 seemed old to us for A ball. Glad I'm not a Nats fan.

Wednesday, I caught the Braves-Cubs matinee. Cubs won 10-2.

I never saw so many visiting fans in my life for a baseball game.

It reminded me of the Stiller fans in the SB in Detroit.

enjoy tonights post-midnight headlines...

Scheppers IS at his high water mark. There's no way coming off of a shoulder injury that he's he's going to have the kind of season that's going to greatly increase his draft value. Plus, next years draft is supposed to be even deeper in piching.

I didn't think so, but I figured the Pirates gave him a "take it or leave it" offer, which is open until midnight. If not for his injury, he would be getting Top 10 money because he would have been drafted in the top 10 or 20. I bet he signs for slot money...

More regarding Quinton Miller and his negotiations with the PBC, courtesy of InsideCarolina.com:

Quentin Miller was packing up preparing to move from his home in Medford, N.J. to join the Tar Heel baseball program when a call from the Pittburgh Pirates front office changed his destination to Bradenton, Fla. to join the Gulf Coast Pirates. Inside Carolina caught up with the UNC signee pitcher on his way to the airport shortly after signing his contract with the team for a $900,000 signing bonus.

"Honestly it kind of started coming up again yesterday," Miller said. "Talks had been dead for a couple of weeks. They made a ballpark range of a set offer on a set number and I was set to go to school. I was very excited for school with all of my stuff all ready to go. Yesterday they called and things picked up from there out of nowhere. They said that they had the money - it was one of the hardest decisions I have had to make and they gave me an offer I could not turn down."

Miller did guarantee in his deal that he will not miss out on the opportunity to attend college after his pro career. "Once I am done playing baseball they will pay for my college - it was a big deal, we wanted to make sure that was part of the package." His signing was quite significant for the Pirates since they were able to draft him in the 20th round (594th) because of concerns about his signability.

"I made it known from the beginning that I was set for going to school,” Miller said. “I am sure that did help some with the negotiations because I really was not budging. I was up front with Coach Fox and Forbes about what it would take to sign me. Pittsburgh made some offers before that and I turned them down because I was going to school - in the end they came up with the money and I had to take it."

Management is pulling off a brilliant signing strategy.  They drafted a few players in the later rounds who were thought to be unsignable or otherwise would have been drafted as early round picks.  They have paid them well over slot and yet were able to determine their market value and therefore set there own price.  A second rounder drafted 20th has little leverage and takes what the Pirates say he is worth yet still is getting well over 20th round dollars.  Both sides are happy.  

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Rocco Demaro on Pirates Postgame show on WPGB said his source has said Alvarez will sign, its a done deal, and has said his source has been right all year long.

This might go down as the best draft since the losing began.  If the PBC signs Scheppers and Alvarez this could be the turning point for the organization.  NH and FC so far have kept their words to the fans.  Now I'm excited about the future of our Buccos!

I hope Rocco is right Alverez is the Franchise player that this organization needs.  I also believe that he will sign.  He really has no other option with all of the money he can get here this year. Next year is supposed to be loaded with pitching and he probably won't be No. 2 next year.

Come on DK!  Where is the updates?  It's been 2 hours!

Cut DK some slack...he's gotta do his game story...oh yeah...there was a game tonight!!

What a historic night!  We got our average crowd attendance over 20,000 for the first time since the 2nd home game of the season.  Way to go casual fans thanks for coming out!!!  Our avg home attendance is now 20,038.  

Anyone notice we are now 8th in the draft order for 2009 as of this moment. Its truly a sad moment when the awful Cleveland Indians passed us up with a better record for the first time this summer.  Cincy, Colorado, and Kansas City will all go by us by the time the kids are back to school.  Sky is the limit after that with our rough road trips in September.  Washington, Seattle, and San Diego are probably the only safe teams so I predict we pick 4th.  Then again we play in SD the last 3 games of the season so we could be playing for something that weekend.  Keep up with the losing.....oh did I say that out loud?  They dont need me to tell them, they are doing a fine job of that themselves.

Rocco reported the Grossman signing back in July and the Quinton Miller signing last night.  He's been all over the draft signings this year.  

hey glad to see the PBC signing kids, but what's was the logic to signing 20 rounder to 900,000.  we signed a gigher pick for 25,000

I like what the Bucs did with Grossman and Miller with the addition of paying for college after they're done with pro ball.  It's a class thing.  Think of the guys who play minor league ball instead of going to school, and are done when they are 25 - and with no education to fall back on (and the low minors don't pay all that well).

I heard on the radio that they are reporting Alvarez has indeed inked a contract with the Bucs - $8M & is a MAJOR league contract - I have to admit I am surprised (nicely) that they were really willing to pony up & sign this kid....Wonder if Scheppers is still in the mix?

The "logic" in signing him to a big bonus is that a large part of the reason he had fallen that far in the draft is because he looked like a difficult signing because he was very interested committed to playing college ball.  They paid well over what a 20th rounder gets, but the difference between the amount paid and the amount he would have received if he was drafted where they believe he belongs is probably quite small.  Another guy they pursued this aggressively was Nate McLouth who was drafted somewhere around the 25th round and got something like $700,000 and the college tuition promise after he announced he was going to Michigan.

Dejan wasn't working the game tonight...he's working the draft deadline. I am sure we will hear from him in the next 2 hours though.

I think Nate also has college paid for by the bucs when he is done

Sorry, but if Scheppers wants top-10 money, it's a case where NH/FC would be well-advised to not sign a top pick, & shouldn't receive much criticism for it.

Count me among those who think that it is in Scheppers best interest to sign now.

While he still could go back and pitch for Fresno State or with an Indy team and reenter the draft, several things happen in that scenario:

1.  He has to get healthy and show he can pitch.

2.  He has to stay healthy.

3.  He has to pitch well.

4.  He loses even more bargaining power next year since he can't return to college.

While there is risk for the Pirates to sign him, there seems to be far far more risk for Sheppers in NOT signing.  I don't think he is getting a low-ball offer b/c of the injury but probably a slot offer.  

Sheppers should sign b/c it is in his own best interest.

Now Rocco is reporting that Alvarez AND Scheppers are going to sign, which will make 9 out of the top 10.  All hail NH and FC!!