The Diamondbacks have agreed to an at-slot deal with first-round pick Pavin Smith, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports on Twitter. The team has announced the signing. Smith, taken seventh overall, will receive a $5,016,300 bonus.
That payday falls just a bit shy of the $5.1MM bonus locked up earlier today by Smith’s former University of Virginia teammate, Adam Haseley, who was taken just one pick later in the draft. Both are seen as advanced hitters.
Smith is expected to remain at first base as a professional, which obviously puts more pressure on his bat. But he carries an extremely polished approach with him to Arizona. In 2017, Smith swatted 13 home runs while going down on strikes just a dozen times.
The major question, perhaps, is just how much power can be expected. Smith is not viewed as possessing significant raw power, though it seems he may be able to maximize his strength with his outstanding contact abilities. He is expected to be a quality defender at first.
Taking in the total package, MLB.com ranked Smith eighth on its draft board, though other pundits weren’t quite as impressed. On other prominent lists, he placed 12th (ESPN.com’s Keith Law), 15th (Baseball America), and 20th (Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen).
As much as the DBacks could use a quick to the bigs bat like Smith, it just puzzles me that they took a guy who plays the same position as the face of the franchise. It’s like the Giants or Cardinals drafting a catcher in the first round while they still have Posey/Molina. Considering the fact that there was very little offensive separation between Smith and Haseley, it would’ve made more sense to take the guy who has a little more defensive versatility.
If im not mistaken goldy one has only one more season on his contract. Hes gonna commnd big $$$. Cant pay him and grenkie.
Not necessarily teams always have some wiggle room… they probably will try him at a different position
Well yeah and not to mention this isn’t football or basketball, Smith isn’t going to be near the major league roster until atleast 2019-2020, that’s 3 more years of age added to Goldy, at that point you can asses whether he is re-singable and the answer will give you options.. If he isn’t then Smith becomes the heir-apparent and somebody else pays big bucks for Goldy. If the answer that Goldy re-signs then you trade Smith to get back a piece to fill in wherever the franchise will need it, Levels of depth is a good thing because you can never factor out players leaving for more money or sharply declining in production.
Take the best player and figure out where to play him later
Exactly, in baseball best player available approach in the draft works well to layer your system will talent from top to bottom.
That’s why teams like the Cubs, Astros and Dodgers are so good right now, because one guy goes down and they reach down to the farm and replace him with someone just as good if not better. Layering the system with waves of talent by best player available in the draft is how you have sustained success.
New front office off to a great start this maybe the quickest the DBacks ever signed a first rounder. I see Smith a corner outfielder or back up plan if Goldy leaves in FA. Shouldn’t take long to make bigs power will come later on for him but patient and smart bat. But like all prospects in sports it’s a crap shoot on who pans out. But good job by the front office getting this done and can now get him in and started.
lets hope he’s Pavin his way to the big leagues in no time.
The history of college 1B taken in the first round is absolutely terrible. I think the last one to have any kind of career was Brett Wallace, taken ten years ago. It’s just a lousy player type.
That’s a really interesting point.
I just looked back at first round draft picks between 2007 and 2013. Only 9 players were drafted strictly as a 1st baseman. Of those 9, 6 were taken in the first round of the 2008 draft. Of those 9, the only one with a solid/consistent career was Eric Hosmer.
Here is the list:
Dominic Smith NYM 2013
CJ Cron LAA 2011
Eric Hosmer KC 2008
Yonder Alonso CIN 2008
Justin Smoak TEX 2008
David Cooper TOR 2008
Ike Davis NYM 2008
Allen Dykstra 2008
Beau Mills CLE 2007
So the track record is pretty bad, it’s a small sample size but I wouldn’t draft a 1st baseman in the first round. Most of the time, you have a player convert to 1st. Mauer, Myers, Desmond.. the list goes on.
Braves will offer you Colon for hi,