Standing Room

Round 1 (7) - Trey Ball, LHP (HS), BA Rank #9 Round 2 (45) - Teddy Stankiewicz, RHP (JC), BA Rank #77 - $1.1M Round 3 (81) - Jonathan Denney, C (HS), BA Rank #25 - $875K Round 4 (113) - Myles Smith, RHP ©, BA Rank #108 Round 5 (143) - Corey Littrell, LHP ©, BA Rank #130 Round 6 (173) - Jordon Austin, OF (HS), Unranked Round 7 (203) - Mike Adams, LHP ©, BA Rank #351 Round 8 (233) - Forrestt Allday, OF ©, Unranked Round 9 (263) - Kyle Martin, RHP ©, Unranked Round 10 (293) - Taylor Grover, RHP ©, Unranked - $10K Round 11 (323) - Carlos Asuaje, SS ©, BA Rank #208 - $100K Round 12 (353) - Jake Drehoff, LHP ©, Unranked Round 13 (383) - Jordan Sheffield, RHP (HS), BA Rank #88 Round 14 (413) - Jake Romanski, C ©, BA Rank #485 Round 15 (443) - Bryan Hudson, OF (HS), Unranked Round 16 (473) - Jalen Williams, RHP (HS), BA Rank #352 Round 17 (503) - Joseph Monge, OF (HS), BA Rank #451 Round 18 (533) - Joe Gunkel, RHP ©, Unranked Round 19 (563) - Gabe Speier, LHP (HS), BA Rank #265 Round 20 (593) - Derek Burkamper, RHP (HS), BA Rank #302 Round 21 (623) - Reed Gragnani, 2B ©, Unranked Round 22 (653) - Ryan Boldt, OF (HS), BA Rank #58 Round 23 (683) - Jimmy Allen, 2B ©, BA Rank #300 Round 24 (713) - Jantzen Witte, 3B ©, Unranked Round 25 (743) - Derik Beauprez, RHP (HS), Unranked Round 26 (773) - Mauricio Dubon, SS (HS), Unranked Round 27 (803) - Mark Nowaczewski, RHP (HS), BA Rank #440 Round 28 (833) - Nick Zammarelli, 3B (HS), Unranked Round 29 (863) - Jeff Driskel, OF ©, Unranked Round 30 (893) - Nick Longhi, OF (HS), BA Rank #296 Round 31 (923) - Ryan Rippee, 1B ©, Unranked Round 32 (953) - Matt Thaiss, C (HS), BA Rank #224 Round 33 (983) - Andrew Rosa, SS (HS), Unranked Round 34 (1013) - Daniel Bethea, C ©, Unranked Round 35 (1043) - Rafael Oliveras, 3B (HS), Unranked Round 36 (1073) - Pat Goetze, RHP (HS), Unranked Round 37 (1103) - Max Watt, RHP ©, Unranked Round 38 (1133) - Trever Morrison, SS (HS), BA Rank #139 Round 39 (1163) - K.J. Trader, RHP (HS), Unranked Round 40 (1193) - Ryan Lidge, C (HS), Unranked Players who have reportedly agreed to terms are in bold. The deadline to sign picks is July 12th.

The new system has done a good job at spreading around the talent, and preventing teams from getting an unfair advantage in the draft. If we sign Ball, Stank and Denney, I would consider it a successful draft. It's not as impressive as many previous years (2012 not withstanding), but it was a weak draft class. Ball and Denney are gems. If by some miracle we also sign Sheffield, it would be a major coup.

If the Red Sox are trying to sign Boldt and Sheffield, it means things went horribly wrong with the rest of their draft picks. Boldt is a near impossible sign, he's looking for $2+ million. Sheffield will be a difficult sign, but there are reports that Ball and Stankiewicz are likely to sign below slot. http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2013/06/09/red-sox-expect-top-picks-trey-ball-teddy-stankiewicz-to-sign-for-below-slot/ The Sox will also have some money from the underslot college arms they drafted. Once/if the Sox sign Ball, Stankiewicz and Denney, then we'd have a better idea of whether or not they have a realistic chance of offering Sheffield the kind of bonus money that would get him to sign. You never know what's going to happen. In 2011, the Sox made a hard push for Senquez Golson but when they felt his asking price became unreasonable they pulled the offer and spent it to sign Mookie Betts. It's always good to have quality talent as a backup option.

:ortiz:

That wraps up the draft. The most notable picks the Red Sox made today were Ryan Boldt and Jordan Sheffield. Overall, the Red Sox picked 19 players that Baseball America had ranked in the top 500 players. #25 - Jonathan Denney, C (HS) #58 - Ryan Boldt, OF (HS) #77 - Teddy Stankiewicz, RHP (JC) #88 - Jordan Sheffield, RHP (HS) #108 - Myles Smith, RHP © #130 - Corey Littrell, LHP © #139 - Trever Morrison, SS (HS) #208 - Carlos Asuaje, SS © #224 - Matt Thaiss, C (HS) #265 - Gabe Speier, LHP (HS) #296 - Nick Longhi, OF (HS) #300 - Jimmy Allen, 3B © #302 - Derek Burkamper, RHP (HS) #351 - Mike Adams, LHP © #352 - Jalen Williams, RHP (HS) #440 - Mark Nowaczewski, RHP (HS) #451 - Joseph Monge, OF (HS) #485 - Jake Romanski, C (HS) Ryan Boldt is a very interesting guy. He projected to be a top 25 talent before he injured his knee. High school outfielder with above average tools across the board. From Minnesota, so he's likely only begun to tap in to his potential. However, he will be a near impossible sign. Barring some kind of a miracle, the Red Sox likely drafted him for two reasons. One, is to use as a negotiating tool with Denney. The other, is to have him as a backup option in case they fail to sign Ball or Denney. Sheffield is Gary Sheffield's nephew. He was also a guy who projected to be a top 25 talent, but fell because he required Tommy John Surgery. Last fall, he was scouted throwing 95+ and topping out at 98 mph. He also projects as a guy that could add 15-30 more pounds. Has a hard curve with a lot of upside and a slide and a change. Sheffield will also come with signing risks, but he wouldn't be a near impossible sign like Boldt.

http://i.imgur.com/E6woNsp.gif

I think most people would probably agree with you and say Doubront, but he's pitched pretty well lately. He's had two starts all year where he allowed more than three earned runs. It looks like he's just starting to get his velocity back, and his peripherals look even better than they did last year. He's 25 years old, he's striking out more than a hitter per inning and he has an xFIP of 3.65. This is a guy who could be on the verge of becoming the type of top of the rotation starter that some fans want us to trade for. And he wouldn't cost any prospects, he's already here. I think this is a case of fans wanting a shiny new pitcher with a big name.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VuWH57091W8/T67Aea-b7GI/AAAAAAAADCc/_3kgJLpCSk8/s1600/crow.jpg Chow time.

That play was bonkers. http://i.imgur.com/hXEmvx7.gif The fact that Letang was a Norris finalist and Chara wasn't is a joke. But there's probably only one trophy the Bruins care about.

SWEEP! http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l75/obie19/Silly%20GIFs/chappelle-broom-dance-o_zpsa753223f.gif THE BRUINS WILL PLAY FOR THE CUP AGAIN!

Very similar strategy to what the Red Sox did last year when they saved money on picks 5-10 and then went for harder signs picks 11-14. The Sox already signed some college relievers with low mileage on their arms - which they like to experiment with as starters. In rounds 15-40 they typically like to sign dual sport athletes and cold weather players, hoping they can dip in to more potential once they focus strictly on baseball year round. Players I imagine the Sox being interested in rounds 11-14 include Boldt, Tellez, Brentz and Biggio. I doubt they could afford more than two of those types of players though given that they already signed Denney.

I'm pretty sure Rubby won't be starting a game for us any time soon. He's yet to pitch 5 innings in a start yet, still working his way back from Tommy John.

That's it for today. The Sox drafted a bunch of under slot garbage rounds 5-10. That isn't to say they had a bad day today, it's more a function of how the draft works now under the new CBA. These are the two players from those rounds who I would consider legitimate prospects. Jordan Austin - Very athletic high school outfielder. Ran a 4.4 40-yard dash, bench presses 330 pounds, throw from the outfield clocked at 88 mph. Forrest Allday - College outfielder with a very discerning eye. Ranked fourth in the nation with a .554 OBP and more than a walk a game in 2011 Division II competition. Moved up to Division I last year, where he had a .486 OBP (14th in the nation). He ranked 3rd in the nation with 1.04 walks a game. Also had seven outfield assists in 55 games.

Palladino seems like a solid pick for the Yankees. 6'9'', 230 pound high school righty. A pretty good project for a 5th round pick.

Wahl's off the board. This draft is about to get boring in a hurry.

My bad, I was looking at his cutter velocity this year. Still not crazy about the idea given his peripherals, the fact that we have multiple pitchers with better peripherals this year, and the fact that we'd be paying him $27+ million at age 37.

Sox take Corey Littrell. A lefthanded college starter. Doesn't have lightning stuff but should be relatively easy to sign and he has high pitchability so he could be in the majors relatively soon. Low ceiling, high floor.

He's lost 4.8 mph on his fastball this year alone and his peripherals suggest he hasn't pitched like an ace this year. What's he going to look like at age 37 when he's making $27+ million a year?

There's no significant difference between his first half and second half numbers, if anything his second half numbers are worse. And this probably isn't a guy we can judge by his past considering his velocity has fallen off a cliff.

Yankees went with another cheaper draft pick. Tyler Wade's a potential 3-tool shortstop, should save them more money for Clarkin.

Will Lee still look like an unquestionable ace in July though? His 3.36 xFIP suggests he's been lucky and might pitch more like a #2 the rest of the season. We already have two starters who have better peripherals than him.

In a vacuum, I would give up Webster and filler for Lee. I don't think it makes sense for us right now though. If Buchholz and Lackey keep pitching well, there's no way I'd give up a top prospect for a #2 or #3 starter in the playoffs who is going to make $25+ million a year through their age 37 season. He's going to demand we pick up his 2016 option if he's going to waive his no-trade agreement. That probably harms us in the future more than it helps us now.

From what I'm reading, Denney might want over slot money. Not surprising, considering he was projected to be a top 10 guy a few months ago. So it's not surprising the Sox went with a bullpen guy who's maxed out his potential and could be a cheap sign. Wouldn't be surprised if the Sox go cheap for their next pick as well. I'm sure they want to free up money to sign Denney, given that he was a top 10 talent before questions about his defense.

I'm at work