Saturday,
August 7, 2010
Twins Sign Wimmers/Gallant
We found out yesterday late afternoon that the Twins and Alex Wimmers, their 1st round pick this June. At
first, terms were not announced. I thought he would sign for at least $1.6-1.8
million. Why? Consider this:
·
2009 1st round pick, Kyle Gibson, was the 22nd overall pick. He agreed to a
signing bonus of $1.85 million within the final moments before signing deadline.
·
Wimmers was the team’s 1st
round pick in 2010, 21st overall. I think his agent should have
pointed out that Wimmers was selected one pick
earlier than Gibson and one year later, so he should have been asking for about
$1.9 million.
I thought negotiations would linger until the last minute again. But when
news came out that Wimmers had signed for ‘just’
$1.332 million, exactly slot, I was shocked. Why hold out for two months if you’re
going to sign at slot? But maybe he just wanted some time off before beginning
his career. I know after I graduated from college, I started working two weeks
later. I wish I had taken more time off! Or, maybe the Twins were just more
successful in getting Wimmers to realize that he was
only work MLB’s slot money.
In either case, the Ohio State alum will begin his pro career next week
with the Ft. Myers Miracle. That is an aggressive starting point for a 2010
pick, but Wimmers is believed to be the most Major
League-ready player in the 2010 draft, so it makes sense. Of course, the White
Sox called up their 1st round pick from the 2010 draft, Chris Sale, this week. I would
anticipate Wimmers being sent to the Arizona Fall
League (along with Kyle Gibson?)
following the season. He could debut as early as late-2011 with the Twins,
although 2012 is more likely.
This was a terrific signing by the Twins and allows them to go over slot
with some of their other draft picks.
Such as… Today, the Twins signed their 23rd
round pick, RHP Dallas Gallant from
Sam Houston State, for $122,500 (according to a tweet by
Baseball America’s Jim Callis). Although he
was a starter in college, he dominated as a power pitcher in the Cape Cod
League this summer. He will report to Elizabethton where he will pitch at the back
end of the bullpen.
So, who is left to sign? Of their top 25 picks this year, they have signed
all but nine. These players have yet to sign:
#11 – Tyler
Kuresa, a high school 1B from California,
committed to Oregon.
#12 – Steven
Maxwell, a junior RHP from Texas Christian University.
#14 – DeAndre Smelter,
a RHP from Macon, Georgia, with a commitment to Georgia Tech.
#15 – Thomas Girdwood, a RHP from Elon
University.
#17 – Devin Grigg, a RHP from Alameda,
California.
#19 – Matt Arguello, a LHP from Mobile, Alabama, who is committed
to South Alabama.
#20 – Cody Martin, a RHP from Gonzaga.
#22 – Dillon
Moyer, a SS from high school in Philadelphia. He is committed to UC-Irvine,
and is the son of veteran LHP Jamie
Moyer.
#24 – Michael
Quesada, a catcher from Sierra college.
The Twins have until Monday, August 16th at 11:00 p.m. central
time, to sign these players. Kuresa and Smelter are
highly regarded prospects whose college commitments scared teams away. Don’t
expect the Twins to sign these guys, and if they do, it will be significantly
over slot.
Any thoughts on the Wimmers signing, Gallant, any
of those who have yet not signed, or anything, leave your comments here.