Clock Is Ticking On Padres Picks

Looks like Tate is going

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/unc/story/5782595/

Interesting commentary, but you may want to consider this; 19 of the 32 first round picks are unsigned mainly because MLB does not want teams going over slot and has to approve when they go over a certain percentage; hence most of the big signings are just starting to trickle in.

To sign Tate, San Diego will have to go an estimated $2 to $3 million over slot; something they are apparantly willing to do - but MLB doesn't want this used as a bargaining chip for the rest of the draftees. The same general philosophy applies to Williams and Sampson as well.

So its not a question of the Padres being cheap or spending money like a drunken sailor, its how this screwed up system works.

As for the individual signings, Sampson from what our sources tell us is nearly done and is only a matter of days away. The progress with Tate has been good and both sides are in the general vicinity.

The biggest seperation is with Williams and this one could not get done for a few reasons: (a) Williams was thought by many entering the draft to be a mid-first round talent. If he doesn't get the money that he believes should come with that position, estimated to be around $1 million, he may believe that he is better off going to Texas and coming out in three years to get that money. San Diego may believe that after paying significant amounts for Tate and Sampson, they may be better off picking up an extra pick than overpaying for a player whose skill set is a lot like Tate.

My own personal feeling is that they sign all three. The difference between Moorad's regime and Alderson is that with the Diamondbacks he believed much more than Alderson of paying big money in the draft to get talent. The Padres will probably have to overpay to get Williams, but in the grand scheme of things it is not a significant amount.