Draft update: Pirates sign 20th-rounder Miller for $900,000

Couldn't resist the urge to be first to post.

This signing kinda came out of nowhere.  I hadn't even heard this kid's name mentioned before just now.  Sounds like a good prospect though.  I wonder what "well above slot" means for a 20th rounder though?  I doubt it's THAT much, but I guess we'll find out shortly.

Another good move it would seem...

From WTM's indispensible site:

users.rcn.com/.../qmiller.htm

<I>"Miller is one of a number of players selected by the Pirates who fell due to bonus demands.  Baseball America rated him the 158th best draft prospect and the best prospect in New Jersey.  He missed much of his junior year due to tendonitis.  He throws a fastball that sometimes is in the 86-90 range and sometimes 93-94, as well as a good slider and average change.  He has a commitment to North Carolina.  The Pirates drafted players in the later rounds who figure to be hard to sign with the idea that they'd make a run at some of those players if they were unable to sign one or more of their earlier choices, such as Tanner Scheppers.  Miller likely will be one of the harder ones to sign, if the team pursues him. "</I>

Dejan,  How could they sign him for well above slot if there is no slot after the 5th round?

YES!! First Freeman, then Grossman and now Miller.  This is exactly what needs to be done to stock the system.  Bravo to Neal for taking these risks and .... gasp ... Bravo to Bob Nutting for stepping up and spending the money.  Perhaps they do have a plan?  I never thought I would be this excited about late round guys, but I am.

Here's a recruiting video on the Miller kid. It's kind of grainy and doesn't have any sound - at least on my computer. Also, it's done from a box way behind the catcher, so no good side angles.

video.google.com/videoplay

Irate: it was referred to as "more than the standard", not slot in this case.  

This is becoming impressive, might we one day look at this draft as the real start of the turnaround for the PBC?

I don't know if any of these tactics will work in the long run, but what the heck, it's decidedly diiferent from the past approach. Bravo

First off , this is my first post. I love this blog and thank you Dejan for keeping all of us PBC fans up to date on everything.

    I have to agree this is another good signing.  Why not get as many of these kids into the system especially a depleted system. We all know that they all are not going to pan out but have as many options as possible in the system.

    Thank you FC and NH for doing the things previous management wouldn't do.

Just saw on the Baltimore Sun:

The Orioles and first-round pick Brian Matusz have agreed to terms on a major league deal that would immediately insert him onto the club's 40-man roster and toward the top of the organization's list of pitching prospects, The Sun has learned.

Matusz, a left-hander out of the University of San Diego and the fourth overall pick in June's amateur draft, will receive a $3.2 million signing bonus.

There seems to be so much more information this year in regards to the draft pick signing process then in years past. I wonder if this is a result of the slotting system, which sets a hard deadline which is much closer to the actual draft then in the old system, or if bloggers such as Dejan are just getting more info out there. In either case, the MLB draft signing deadline day might soon be right up there with the college football letter of intent day for those fans always looking ahead with optimism to a brighter future for their teams.

Wonder if this is more evidence that Scheppers isn't happening. Regardless- great signing! Just add Pedro and FC/NH have done more than enough to garner our faith and trust.

Anyone care to guess what Dave Littlefield is thinking about as he watches what NH is doing?

Either:                 A) Why didn't they give me these resources?

or more likely      B) Oh, so THAT'S how you build a competitive organization.

 I'll preface this by saying that this though may all be because of the history of the Pirates organization that I have watched over the years.

 The recent high-bonus signings are starting to scare me.  I love the idea of getting this talent for a bare farm system, but it is awfully unusual to see the Pirates throw around this much money.  All of this before signing either of the top two picks.  I hope I am wrong and the organization has really changed it's attitude and approach, but it feels like the money for the first two picks is starting to be spent.

 A few hours until we find out I guess.

This is a sign of putting your money where your mouth is.

Good job NH but only time will tell

With the way this draft class is shaping up, I wonder if the scouting was the problem in the past, or, was it the ineptness of McClatchy and Bonifay/Littlefield. It looks like FC and NH have really got a load of talent in one draft. Hopefully, Alvarez will be the crown jewel of the draft.

Ref - This is a sign of putting your money where your mouth is.  

I am afraid to say this but feel I have to ... we bashed Nutting in the past, but when you look back from when he came in and fired McClatchy, the guy has done some great things.  First FC, then NH and Russell.  The dominican training facility, the higher bonuses being handed out to the Latin American kids DK wrote about and now clearly stepping up in the draft.Even if they don't get Pedro, you got to think they are offering 6 to 7 million.  That proves a lot to me in the sense that he is serious about turning this thing around.

I will now be heading into my basement because this clearly is a sign the end of the world is near.

Could be a great signing. I applaud Huntington and Coonely for their work so far.

But...it won't mean JACK if Alvarez goes unsigned. I've come to accept that Scheppers isn't going to sign, and if he really wants top 10 money with a bum shoulder, he's not worth it. But, Alvarez is a franchise player.

Just do it Huntington!

Littlefield is probably thinking the former.

My guess is that Frank and Neal probably made investing in the franchise a pre-condition before they accepted their positions with the team. These two also are benefitting greatly from Bob Nutting assume control of the team, as he seems way more willing to spend money on the team then McClatchy.  

The signing of the unsignable/committed to school picks says a lot about the new Buccos brass .  I wouldn't be bothered one bit if Alvarez or Scheppers become comp picks, if the best of other 48 picks signed.

$900K for 20th rounder and the Pirates.    

Multiple top 100 ranked picks and the Pirates.

Scott Boras'  player and the Pirates.

This is a change from previous years.

In McClatchy's defense, it's easier for Nutting to spend his own money than it was for McClatchy to spend it for him.

On the other hand, McClatchy did let Littlefield spend money, he was just an IDIOT who spent it in the wrong places (Burnitz, Derek Bell, Matt Morris, etc.)

These articles paint Austin Jackson, son of a semipro baseball player, as eating, drinking, breathing and sleeping baseball since he was 5.  It sounds like if he hears a reasonable figure he would sign.

www.risemag.com/main.cfm

www.pioneerlocal.com/.../1000437,sc-wright-061208-s1.article

yourseason.suntimes.com/.../940164,050808austinwrightpow.article

"Could be a great signing. I applaud Huntington and Coonely for their work so far.

But...it won't mean JACK if Alvarez goes unsigned. I've come to accept that Scheppers isn't going to sign, and if he really wants top 10 money with a bum shoulder, he's not worth it. But, Alvarez is a franchise player.

Just do it Huntington!"

Really? So one player can bring home a pennant? I never knew...

make that Austin Wright

900 K, thats about what Scheppers would want, I'll bet you're right, he's off the table.  Is there anyone else that the PBC might be looking at?  What about that third baseman from LA?

Wow wonder how Justin Wilson feels now after seeing the signing bonus this kid got???  Wilson was certainly more highly regarded (though maybe not more talented), was closer to the bigs, and was a higher pick and yet we got him for slot.  I'd say Wilson should've pushed for more from the Pirates, but NH must've been playing serious hardball with him.

Good to see the Pirates aren't afraid to open the purse strings, though I think this is probably a definite indication that Scheppers isn't coming, as I would have to think they have some kind of draft budget, right?

I really hope they are spending Scheppers' money and NOT Alvarez' money to sign these late round picks!

That Austin Wright kid...He doesn't know who Steve Carlton is?  Who doesn't know that!?!!

check out the third link there...it was at the bottom

At this time of the day, I can only say: "wow."

Don't tell me that this not different from the Littlefield days.  It seems to me like the Pirates are a little bit more willing to spend the money.  Better still, they drafted players with high upside and are actually signing them.

To me it's too early to say too many good things about a club owned by Mr. Nutting (we have know how it goes for too long), but at this time I can only say good things about the trades and the signings that have taken place.

Keeping my fingers crossed, and a few voodoo dolls with Mr. Boras' name on them.  Many needles ready for action at midnight approaches..., for Mr. Boras' voodoo dolls, of course.

Derek Bell was a Bonifay signing but of course that doesn't

make Littlefield any less of an idiot.

This article on SI.com about top prospects, including Andrew McCutchen says it all.  It's the Matt Wieters part that eats at me. All while Moskas continues to struggle. You wonder if this bonehead decision will end up worse than the A-Ram trade.

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.../index.html

The 2 things I can't wait for after the deadline:

1. What caused the Yankee's pick to decide against signing? He was a Yankee fan and decided to go to UCLA instead. Since teams are giving college educations it doesn't seem to make sense.

2. What is going through Tanner Schepper's head? I can't even picture Littlefield falling for that act.

That said, they're taking this build through the draft stuff seriously.

Ben State and Irate Fan:

The original blog post did say more than "slot", but apparently was changed.  

I was thinking the same thing as irate fan about there not being "slot" past 5th round, but when I read your guys posts, I went back up and it was changed to "standard" from what I read previously, which was definitely "slot".

Plenty of Hope,

Not sure where I ever indicated that Alvarez would bring a pennant. I'm just saying signing low round draft picks is great...but not if you're losing your 1st and 2nd round picks to do it.

Can a pitcher go on the DL with an upside arm? Quinton Miller may have a huge upside, but an upside arm just doesn't sound right.

I doubt that many teams had Justin Wilson rated higher than Quinton Miller.  

Here's a good profile of Miller, courtesy of InsideCarolina.com:

northcarolina.scout.com/.../724670.html

What sets Miller apart from the rest, in his mind, is his competitiveness and passion for the sport. “I just love the game and I’m always out there 100 percent focused, I love winning and I’ll do anything to win,” Miller said.

Miller’s fastball consistently sits in the low 90s and is complemented by two very effective off-speed pitches. He was described by a Perfect Game scout as “one of the most polished pitchers in the 2008 class.” UNC coach Mike Fox, referring to Miller’s skills on the mound, said: “Quinton has a very quick arm and a great feel for pitching. He throws strikes with all his pitches and he has great mound presence.”

Like others in the Tar Heels’ 2008 class, he is not a one-dimensional player. “He’s a very versatile athlete and even though he’ll be used as a pitcher at Carolina, he has the ability to be an everyday player as well,” said Anderson. “He’s a great leader with a great work ethic and he comes from a great family.”

@Buc Fever:

I think you are confusing the round a guy is drafted with his talent level.  Grossman, our sixth round pick who got a $1 million bonus, and Miller, our 20th round pick who got $900K, are definitely much more talented than their round would suggest.  Grossman signed a letter of intent with Texas and Miller with UNC so most teams thought they couldn't be signed.

As far as I can tell these two players have received higher bonuses than any other player taken after the fifth round in the whole draft.  Grossman was considered by many to be a top two round talent.  I'm not suggesting we not sign our top two picks, but Pirate fans should be ecstatic that they got these two in the fold.  A couple more to go.  This is a huge commitment by the organization.

OK, Who are these guys, and what have you done with the Pirates?

Ok, i have to admit, i never really paid that much attention to the draft before all this current coverage.  I must admit, I am highly impressed with 1) the draft of these "could've been" first rounders late and 2) the pirates actually signing these guys.  I get a warm fuzzy just thinking of these future buccos in uniform, granted it might be awhile, but we have to have something to look forward to.

dtodd,

I'm not confusing rounds with ability. I agree that it is fantastic that the Pirates are signing these guys! My point just remains that, while it's great to get the 48th ranked prospect and the 158th ranked prospect, it won't mean much if you let the #1 ranked prospect get away. As I've said, if we sign Alvarez, this will look to be the Pirates strongest drafts in decades. (Although, that's purely on paper. Nobody knows what these high school kids will develop into, that's why they're more of a risk!) It looks like an impressive draft...now LET'S JUST GET ALVAREZ! :)

on my way from philly to warren pa for a wedding. i figured it was time to post  my thoughts on the alvarez sheppers stuff. I feel like we will end up signing both, plus gagnon. All along, it has seemed like FC and NH are setting up different budgets for every aspect of their baseball operations structure. they seem to have a major leaue budget, a draft budget for each player that is independent of their total, and a budget for latin america.

i dont think that NH is signing these guys just for easing the antimosity that would arise from not signing alvarez and scheppers. I think its as they have been saying from day one, and that we are trying to get s many studs in house as possible. It is also a great tool in negotiations that they are making boras think they have less dollars availale to spend now then they might acutally have available.

One last thought regarding the late round guys vs. justin miller. I think this shows that they are setting a level on each guy. Then when ever a player signs for under that level, the surplus  money is then applied to the high schoolers first since they have the most leverage. I feel like since Boras is likely unwilling to really negotiate until 11 tonight that the surpluses going to alvarez havr not yet been offered. Scheppers might have a less flexible number onthe table because of his labrum, but I bet he will have more money thrown at him late this evening as well.

Anyways... enjoy the deadline fellow pbcers

Given Miller's signing, I'm not anticipating Schepper's joining the fold.

$900K is a small price to pay for preventing a man from making the mistake of becoming a UNC Tarheel.