I began the day convinced the Pirates were going to draft "A-Rod Lite", SS Manny Machado, but by the end of Monday, I'm on board with their selection at #2 overall: RHP Jameson Taillon of The Woodlands HS in Texas.
Taillon goes 6'6"/235 pounds, has hit 98 on the radar gun, and already has four pitches in his repertoire. In his senior year at The Woodlands, Taillon was 9-1 with a 1.69 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings. I'd imagine he immediately becomes the Pirates' #1 pitching prospect in their organization the moment he signs.
Considering their past, I'm naturally scared of the Pirates taking a pitcher in the first round, especially a high-schooler. As I told one emailer today, "Should we just go ahead and book his appointment for Dr. Andrews a year from now?"
But that's just me being Cynical Blogger Guy. In all seriousness, I have to hand it to Nealer the Dealer...this pick took some cojones, given the price tag that will accompany Taillon and the fact that he's probably going to take a few years to develop. Rather than take the signable, closer-to-the-bigs-but-lower-ceiling college pitchers available, Huntington took an expensive roll of the dice on a player who's got an offer to Rice University as leverage. I suppose you're not supposed to be excited when a team does what it's supposed to do, but in this case, we've seen that happen a time or 10 in the past two decades Doing the right thing is a welcome, refreshing change-of-pace for fans of this organization.
Taillon is a client of the Hendricks brothers, not Scott Boras, if that makes you feel any better. But before you think that's like getting a .50 double coupon on this purchase, think again:
Hendricks has negotiated many record contracts, and his $28 million one year contract for Roger Clemens is the highest in the history of baseball. Recently, he negotiated a record $30.25 million contract for 21 year old Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman.
Going on past precedent, Dustin Ackley got $7.5 million guaranteed in 2009 at the #2 spot, and Pedro Alvarez squeezed $6.3 mil out of Team Nutting in 2008. So I'm guessing the Henrickses will want at least $8 million in hand for Taillon before they threaten the Pirates with Rice U.
It may takes some tense negotiating, but I think a deal ultimately gets done, as the Buccos use some of the millions socked away and earmarked for occasions like this over the years. Taillon gets paid, the Pirates get a legit pitching prospect, and fans get something for their continued investment (financially and emotionally) in the team. It's a win win win - a rarity for this organization.
It may takes some tense negotiating, but I think a deal ultimately gets done, as the Buccos use some of the millions socked away and earmarked for occasions like this over the years. Taillon gets paid, the Pirates get a legit pitching prospect, and fans get something for their continued investment (financially and emotionally) in the team. It's a win win win - a rarity for this organization.
Email your feedback, questions, and tips Mondesishouse@gmail.com
