10:59pm: The Dodgers signed Lee, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). Lee will leave LSU and focus solely on baseball, according to the team. Lee will get a $5.25MM bonus to be spread over five years, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (on Twitter).
8:26pm: The Dodgers are "on the brink" of signing first-round pick Zach Lee, according to Yahoo's Steve Henson (on Twitter). The prep right-hander, who turns 19 next month, was considered a tough sign, partly because he has committed to playing quarterback for LSU's football team. The Dodgers selected Lee 28th overall, a slot for which MLB recommended a $1.134MM bonus a year ago.
dizzle4
Wow, huge surprise. Good for them.
BlueSkyLA
Only comes as a surprise to those who were obsessing over every detail of the divorce soap opera instead of following baseball.
jwredsox
Wow. This came from nowhere. Dodgers fans will be happy for once
Dave_Gershman
Wow..I guss the one lesson you learn from this, you just never, never know.
Sniderlover
Didn`t think they would get it done but good for them.
dieharddodgerfan
WOW! This would be HUGE for us!
Definitely would give me something to be happy about right now.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
think i just pissed my pants…
Ferrariman
i’l believe it when i see it.
NightManDefenderOfTheSun
At this rate, Dodger fans should hold out hope for even bigger news at the end of August. Coming from a baseball fan, the Dodger name has been dragged through mud long enough.
greengrove
The Dodgers just leaked this out to try to show fans that they tried their hardest.
I still doubt they’ll sign him.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
they’ve been talking the last couple days and they were reportedly offering over 3M
gulfcoastbiased
That’s fine. Only problem was he was asking for $5 million. Someone cracked in the negotiations, if he did indeed sign. There is no confirmation anywhere right now outside of Yahoo.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
Dylan Hernandez said he heard he wanted 4M a few days ago. Then said they were willing to go 3M, and people thought it’d be enough to get it done. He missed afternoon practice and is now supposedly talking to the LSU people…
gulfcoastbiased
He is reportedly on LSU’s campus right now in a football meeting.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
I heard he is meeting with the football coaches, not in a football meeting. Probably about the Dodgers…
gulfcoastbiased
I was told “meeting with the football team”. Splitting hairs, but I trust my guy. Also, the offer is reportedly $3.8 million.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
Lazare twitter:
According to sources close to major league baseball, the Dodgers are offering Zach Lee about $3.8 million. Reportedly, he is close to agreeing. But, he has not agreed yet.
We’ll see
LSUdiehardfan
He didn’t miss practice. Les Miles gave him the afternoon off to be with his family while he pondered his decision. Also, there is no way they are holding a “team meeting” at 10:00 at night here for a player to discuss his decision. If there’s a meeting, it’s with Miles and possibly some staff.
gulfcoastbiased
Telling you exactly what I know. He’s in Miles office right now. We should all know something shortly.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
He wasnt at practice because him and his family were meeting with the Dodgers. Take it how you want. I didnt mean it as he ditched practice, but he wasnt there.
And I was the one who said I doubt there is a team meeting, but rather a team with the coaches. My guess is it has to do with the fact that he is right now just the #3 QB and if there is a chance he gets the starting gig
gulfcoastbiased
30 minutes left and the Dodgers are still at $4 million and Lee still wants $5 million.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
that’s ridiculous, IMO. Harper and the Pirates pick got 5M, no one else. Does he really think he is that high?
gulfcoastbiased
He’s worth what the market will bear. He has shown in a few short weeks in camp that he could be a legitimate college QB, which could mean a lot more guaranteed money down the road from the NFL. He’s an extremely confident kid that feels like he could be an MLB #1 on the hill or an NFL QB and his asking price is $5 million. You gonna be the one to tell that he doesn’t deserve it? I admire this kid’s guts, that’s for sure.
gulfcoastbiased
Also, Dodgers 6th round pick RHP Kevin Gaussman turned down reportedly $1.5 million from LA and will pitch at LSU for the next several seasons.
LSUdiehardfan
I sure hope he stays at LSU. He’s got a very bright future there with baseball and football.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
but how many people get to the NFL? He has to think that. He is being offered top 2 money. TOP 2. He was 28. We’ll see in the next 9 minutes I guess
LSUdiehardfan
The only reason he dropped to 28 though was because of his commitment to LSU. No one thought they’d be able to sign him.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
true. but he was never thought of as #2, which is the money he is asking for…
gulfcoastbiased
Lee has reportedly signed with the Dodgers.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
LINK?
gulfcoastbiased
Give it a second. You’ll see it. Dodgers gave him “more than he was expecting”.
Eric
see it where
lakersdodgersyankees4life
LsU confirmed it. Sorry LSU
Eric
where did you get this information?
lakersdodgersyankees4life
its linked above.. Callis
gulfcoastbiased
My post was six minutes before Callis. It happened 8 minutes before the deadline. LSU fans are bummed.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
gotta feel bad for LSU. At least you got Gausman
gulfcoastbiased
Yeah, Gausman’s a nice consolation prize, but I’m just not sure he can throw a spiral.
dodgerjulio
I’ll believe it till I see it.
southerndodgerfan
I wonder where he would have gone if other teams were not concerned about the whole LSU thing…
Paul M
Top ten easy
DreinLA
Nice!
DreinLA
kengurnick: Lee got $5.25 million over five years.
NightManDefenderOfTheSun
Somewhere in a dark, decrepit cave, Peter Gammons is nursing an ulcer.
dodgerblue333
anyone know what he was ranked? im saying purely based off talent was he considered to be a top 10 or top 20 pick…ignoring the fact he was considered unsignable.
Paul M
He was considered to have some of the most advanced pitching tools of all high school pitchers.
If he wasn’t supposedly going to LSU he could of been picked within the first six picks.
dodgerblue333
definitely good to hear…
dieharddodgerfan
I have read the he may have been the 2nd best high school arm behind Jameson Tallion, who got drafted by the Pirates No. 2 overall.
If not for his strong commitment to LSU, and the large bonus he was demanding to forgo it, he may have been a Top 10 to Top 15 draft pick.
Dodgers definitely stole one by signing Lee.
TopDeckBum
Peter Gammons seconds after the Dodgers picked Lee: “How can they sign him?” Pete, forget the draft and stick to what you do best, geting trade rumors wrong.
Paul M
To be fair, 95% of our fan base thought we didn’t have a shot based on past history.
Gumby65
Logan White, please accept the apologies from about 325 Million people.