Atlanta Braves speeding to the draft signing finish line
By Fred Owens
The Atlanta Braves signed their final pick from the pool round and appear on track to ink at least 39 of their Rule 4 draft selections.
Signing bonuses given by the Atlanta Braves for this draft look more like random spins on the bonus wheel than a linear progression from least promising to most promising.
Since Braden Shewmake (Round 1, pick 21) signed at the allowance for his selection, no bonus given exceeded $700K, only four exceeded $500K with one more above $445K and two around $350K.
Three pool round players signed above their slot, seven signed below and as noted, Shewmake right on his pick’s dollar amount. Conversely, five players from day three got more than the $125K limit allowed before the money ‘counts’.
After all reported signings (11 from rounds 1-10, and five from day three), the Braves have $169,200 unallocated and a total of $570,810 spending power still available – including the excess available before incurring a penalty.
Atlanta Braves’ latest signings
I’ve had some folks provide me news of players who inked contracts, and I appreciate that. When I get that kind of information, I must seek a second source; unless I find one I can’t call them ‘confirmed’ in a post.
If you told me something and it isn’t here, that’s why. Now for the names of some new members of the Braves family.
- Darius Vines signed for $127,500, 63% ($74,100) under his slot
- Rickey DeVito signed for $167,500, about 0.1% ($1,200) over his slot
- Cody Milligan signed for $197,500, 33% ($46,200) over his slot
- Tyler Owens signed for $547,500, 338% ($422,500) over the late round allowance ( I said Morton’s bonus shocked me, maybe I’m easily shocked?)
- 33rd round pick Justin Yeager signed for $137,500, 1% ($12,500) over the late round allowance
- Indigo Diaz signed for late round max $125,000
The Atlanta Braves transactions page shows the following players signed.
- Willie Carter OF Senior sign
- Cody Birdsong 2B Senior sign
- Mitch Calendra C Senior sign
- Alex Segal LHP Senior sign
- Alec Barger RHP
I’ve seen no reports of their signing bonuses, and MLB’s Draft Tracker page is at least a week out of date.
I asked Callis and Mayo about it and contacted MLB about the site. So far, I’ve heard nothing and don’t expect to. I can see that MLB Pipeline already has a 2020 mock draft available, so there’s that… #Useless.
What about the rest?
I’ve seen the following names reported elsewhere without a source or dollar amount.
Atlanta Braves
12 Andy Samuelson LHRP
20 Peyton Williams RHP Senior sign
21 Javier Valdes c Senior sign
25 Chad Bryant Senior sign
31 Greg Leban RHP Senior sign
37 Davis Schwab LHP Senior sign
40 Cade Bunnell 2B Senior sign
Joey Estes (RHP) (16) and Mahki Backstrom (1B) (19) are high school picks that are either negotiating or signed depending on the source of the rumor.
Drew Campbell can’t sign until the College World Series is over or Louisville is eliminated.
They just eliminated Auburn so it could be a week or two before we know. This link covers that game and Campbell driving in an eighth-inning run.
MLB lists James Acuna as a four-year senior, but he played only two years of ball and redshirted one season, so he may return to school and try for more money next year.
Anthony Hall, Josh Rolling, and Mitchell Jackson are high school picks unlikely to sign.