Some afternoon draft notes, with the signing deadline two days away…
-Chuck Finder reported this morning that Neil Huntington and Greg Smith would be meeting with The Hendricks Brothers to discuss Jameson Taillon. I relayed a rumor from Taillon’s high school baseball league saying a deal is in place, although that came with a disclaimer that the rumor shouldn’t be viewed as totally accurate. If they’re still discussing Taillon, as Finder says, then no such deal exists. Then again, the Hendricks Brothers also represent Stetson Allie, so perhaps the meeting involves him (actually, either way I’m sure the meeting involves him).
-The Houston Chronicle had a report on Taillon and seventh round pick Austin Kubitza. The article said that Taillon is pretty much a guarantee to go pro (which seems to be the consensus feeling from baseball writers covering the draft). The article says that Kubitza has decided to go to Rice, rather than sign with the Pirates, due to the Pirates being far off Kubitza’s asking price. In my interview with Austin, he said his asking price was $1.5-2 M, and that he was content to stick to that price.
-More on Kubitza, his brother on the Rice Owls board, confirms that he is going to Rice, and that he will be moving in to school tomorrow (thanks to TraccoBucco for the link). I’ve known for awhile that Kubitza would be leaving for school tomorrow, although that really means nothing. He can still sign after he’s moved in to school. For now it looks like Kubitza is gone, although I wonder if that decision could change if the Pirates came to him with more money before the deadline.
-The Arizona Central is the latest to report that Drew Maggi could be signing with the Pirates. I’d say that deal is pretty much set in stone based on how many people have heard the reports. It is probably being held up due to the fact that Maggi recently returned from Japan, where he was playing for Team USA.
-Right now, if I had to guess based on everything I’ve heard, I’d say the only players the Pirates will be signing are Taillon, Allie, Jason Hursh, and Maggi. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were able to get one of Kubitza or Zach Weiss with a strong offer, although I think Weiss would be the most likely of that duo to sign.
August 14, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Great work Tim. You’ve been spot on through this entire process.
August 15, 2010 at 2:46 am
I would think that the only way they get Kubitza or Weiss is if they can’t come to an agreement with Allie, unless they decide to spend over 11 or 12 M on the draft this year.
August 15, 2010 at 12:05 pm
I know he’s a high school kid, and people mature, but did you get the sense that he’s a little too confident? Wanting to be like Carlos Zambrano in performance is one thing, but wanting to be like him attittude wise is a little bit of a flag to me.
Twitter: timwilliamsp2
August 15, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I think the Zambrano attitude he was referring to was the drive to win. Zambrano is very competitive, and that is apparent. I don’t think this means Kubitza will be destroying Gatorade machines in his future.