The rumor that is strongest with the Giants is Jedd Gyorko, which Boof mentioned and DrB as well. That far back in the first round, the Giants never seem to follow what conventional wisdom would say they would pick, so Gyorko would seem to fit that pattern. But it wouldn't surprise me if they went in another direction either.
There are a wide variety of possible suspects in their range and they include:
- Austin Wilson (top 15 talent that could fall due to signability issues)
- Yordy Cabrera
- Christian Colon
- Gary Brown
- Justin O'Connor (though Piliere's latest has him picked early, 10th)
- Bryce Brentz (though most have him gone before 24)
- Delino DeShields Jr.
- Kaleb Cowart (though most have him gone)
- Nick Castellanos (though most have him gone)
- Asher Wojcichowski (though most have him gone)
- Antony Ranaudo (injury issues pushing him later, but most have him gone)
- Brett Eibner
- A.J. Cole
- Brandon Workman (though most have him gone)
- Dylan Covey (though most have him gone)
- Barrett Loux
- Michael Kvasnicks
- Stetson Allie (though most have him gone)
- Aforementioned Jedd Gyorko
As you can see, depending on how one team could lean, it could mean a whole different mix of players available for the Giants. Andy Baggarly had a nice article about the Giants, where it is noted that they will select the usual best player available:
In fact, scouting director John Barr indicated that the club might benefit from a tough sign dropping to the Giants in the first round.
"From what John told me, we'll be in a good situation," Sabean said. "We'll be able to take a good player, whether it's because we're looking at players differently or it's a signability issue."
Nothing surprising, but the key thing is that they will spend the money if someone with talent falls to them.
It should be interesting and if you can, the MLB.com will be televising the draft live. I've found it interesting to watch and recommend it to those who have the time and ability to do that. I will post each pick by the Giants as soon as I'm able.
Baseball America has tweeted their latest mock draft out for free: http://ht.ly/1V2Sh
ReplyDeleteThey note what I've noted, that this draft can go in a lot of different ways.
Here is what they said about the Giants: "San Francisco can get a desperately needed bat by choosing from among several shortstops who project to move to third base: Castellanos, fellow Florida high schooler Yordy Cabrera and two collegians, Georgia Tech's Derek Dietrich and West Virginia's Jedd Gyorko. That said, the Giants may be the first team that would pop Texas Tech righthander Chad Bettis.
PROJECTED PICK: Yordy Cabrera."
They also have Christian Colon, Stetson Allie, Drew Covey, Austin Wilson, Gary Brown, Kaleb Cowart, Brett Eibner, among others, to choose from.
BA also posted their final Top 50 before the draft based on talent: http://ht.ly/1V3y7
ReplyDeleteHe has Gary Brown as 24th. Others that have been mentioned as possibles for the Giants rated higher include Kasten Whitson, Matt Harvey, Nick Castellanos, Stetson Allie, Kaleb Cowart, Alex Wimmers, Justin O'Conner, Kolbrin Vitek, Brandon Workman, Asher Wojciechowski, Peter Tago, and Brett Eibner.
Others listed just after include A.J. Cole, Dylan Covey, Anthony Ranaudo, Austin Wilson, Bryce Brentz, Zach Lee.
Yordy Cabrera is rated 35th and Jedd Gyorko 37th. But as I noted, the Giants often go with prospects who are not as highly rated as where the Giants selected.
John Sickels has another final mock draft up: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/6/7/1505437/another-final-mock-draft
ReplyDeleteHe has the Giants going for Bryce Brentz:
"Makes a lot of sense for the offense-hungry Giants. If they want to spend over-slot money, Nick Castellanos could go here."
Wilson, Cabrera, Brown, Cowart, Ranaudo, Eibner, as well as Castellanos still available too. Matt Harvey as well.
Here is what he says about Gyorko in the Yankees pick:
"The Yankees could use a bat that should be ready for the major leagues quickly, while continuing to invest money in Latin America for big-ticket players. Nick Castellanos is a possibility if they want to spend more money, and there's a chance that a different high school guy like Drew Vettleson, Tony Wolters, or Kendrick Perkins could pop up. If they want a pitcher, Matt Harvey's upside remains high."
I would also throw out Zach Cox's name, he was ranked higher before but apparently signability has been pushing him to us:
"He's still on the board for financial reasons in this scenario, but would be hard for the Red Sox to pass up. Matt Harvey remains another option."
Another name I've been seeing pop up in the first round is Christian Yelich, who Sickel has the Phillies selecting with the 27th pick:
"I had Jesse Biddle here last time, but there's a good chance he'll be gone by this point. Christian Yelich rumors are strong, but they could also look at stereotypical high school athletes like Kendrick Perkins or Tyrell Jenkins. Gary Brown of Cal State Fullerton would also fit."
Frank Piliere, former scout for Texas now analyst for AOL Fanhouse, has posted his final mock draft: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/06/07/mlb-mock-draft-4-0-final-countdown/?sms_ss=twitter
ReplyDeleteHe has the Giants selecting Cabrera too:
"All signs point to the Giants being heavily in favor of taking Cabrera in this spot. San Francisco likes his bat even more than most, and that should be enough to get it to take the plunge"
Others still available include Wilson, Brown, Cowart, Castellanos, Eibner, Cole, Harvey, Gyorko, Covey, Tago.
I would also note that Zack Cox, who BA rated the #7 talent of the draft, is falling closer to the Giants in the drafts, he's 22nd to Texas in this scenario:
"There has been heavy industry buzz that Zack Cox could take a serious tumble down the board given his asking price. The belief is that Cox has a home somewhere in the 20s with a team that is willing to consider his price tag. Despite doubts about their financial situation, many in the industry believe that team could be the Rangers."
If he makes it to the Giants, that would be a big test of how willing they are to go in terms of bonus for this pick.
And with Harvey at 13th, Castellanos at 14th, Allie at 15th, and Cowart at 16th, the Giants most probably will be tested by one of these.
FYI, Austin Wilson, who I've noted that some thought he was Top 15 talent, is only rated 28th by BA. Brentz is 29th, Yordy Cabrera 35th, Jedd Gyorko 37th.
Some have mentioned Gyorko coming in meet with the Giants, but that does not mean that they will go for that player as they had someone come in in another draft and the Giants ended up selecting someone else.
Jonathan Mayo, whose mock draft let me to hope that the Giants pick Lincecum, has his final mock draft out: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100607&content_id=10910172&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
ReplyDeleteHe has the Giants going with Stetson Allie (that's really more a Texas pick :^), though notes two other possible picks:
"The Giants could go with the big arm in Allie or perhaps a college bat like Christian Colon or Jedd Gyorko."
He also has Wilson, Cabrera, Brown, Brentz, Cowart, Castellanos, Ranaudo, Cole, Gyorko, and Covey available.
That's the last of the big name mock drafts freely available that I've been following for mock drafts. There will be tweets by some of them along the way, and I'll try to pass them along as soon as I can.
Oh, missed this, but BA will have a final mock draft, er, first round projection, just before joining the MLB live broadcast of the draft at 6PM EDT.
ReplyDeleteOh, the draft actually don't start until 7PM ET (4 PM PT), so I might not be around when the Giants pick, as they expect it to run to 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT). I thought it was starting at 6PM (4PM). It depends on how long each pick takes, but typically Selig makes every team wait 5 minutes before selecting, making the Giants pick just before 9PM (6 PM). I will probably be off for dinner when that pick comes.
So I'll report on any of the names that I've been reporting as possible picks for the Giants when they get selected, and I'll post the pick the moment I am able to.
Frank Piliere is having a draft discussion on Fanhouse: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/06/07/2010-mlb-draft-chat-first-round/
ReplyDeleteReported lastest word is that the Dbacks would take Barrett Loux over Pomeranz but not over Chris Sale.
This is why Sabean is always tight-lipped about plans and why the Giants as an organization is usually just as tight-lipped. Info like this can be used by other teams (though in this case, since it is driven by being cheap, shouldn't do much) ahead of you to change their mind and grab someone before you.
Fanhouse has a video discussion on draft sleepers: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/06/03/fanhouse-tv-2010-mlb-draft-sleepers/#cntnt
ReplyDeleteDiscusses both Wilson and Castellanos, but it is Castellanos that more interesting info is given, about his makeup and prior history. Sounds pretty good, take a listen if interested. I'm liking him if he falls to us.
They also discuss Stetson Allie as well.
As I commented, Frank Piliere has been chatting live on Fanhouse. Interesting tidbits so far:
ReplyDelete* Dbacks looking to go cheap with their pick as I noted above.
* Zack Cox is reportedly looking for a big league deal and Pedro Alvarez money.
Also, BA has just realized their FINAL final mock draft: http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=2255
Still has Giants selecting Yordy Cabrera