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Draft Rumor Roundup: Appel, Gray, Moran, Astros, Royals, Bickford

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Mark Appel is still in consideration for the first overall pick. - Image Courtesy: Pittsburgh Pirates
Mark Appel is still in consideration for the first overall pick. – Image Courtesy: Pittsburgh Pirates

We will keep track of all of the draft rumors today in this post. In previous years it was easy to guess what the Pirates would do, since they were picking at the top. This year it’s up in the air, and the guys available to them will be largely influenced by the first eight picks in the draft. So we’ll focus on the rumors there, but also anything that comes up for the Pirates that isn’t “they’re looking at Reese McGuire”.

**Peter Gammons says the Astros are still undecided on the first overall pick.

I’m not sure that decision will impact who is available to the Pirates at number nine.

**Gammons also says the Royals could have an over-slot deal with Phil Bickford at number eight.

That’s something that could impact who the Pirates pick from. The Pirates will probably have their choice of 2-3 players from the Reese McGuire, Austin Meadows, Clint Frazier, and Trey Ball group. Every mock draft this morning had the Pirates taking McGuire. If the Royals go with Bickford (every mock today had them on Ball), then there could be a chance that the Pirates get their choice of three or all four of those prep players.

**The Twins may be taking Kohl Stewart at number four.

**Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe predicts Austin Meadows to the Red Sox at number seven.

**Seattle has LHP Rob Kaminsky in the mix at number 12.

If that happened, combined with the Bickford/Royals rumor earlier, it would increase the chances of the Pirates landing two from the McGuire/Ball/Frazier/Meadows group, in my opinion.

*** Still no news at the top as the clock ticks away.

** Astros might take Moran or Stewart. Wouldn’t have much effect on Pirates, but it does shake things up a bit if one of them goes first

Tim Williams
Tim Williams
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.

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