The Athletics have announced a deal with top pick Tyler Soderstrom. It includes a $3.3MM signing bonus, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports (via Twitter). The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser reported yesterday that Soderstrom would sign today and is expected to be added to Oakland’s 60-player pool.
Also going under contract was fifth rounder Stevie Emanuels. The University of Washington righty receives a $400K bonus. With his signing, the A’s have completed all of their draft business.
Soderstrom, a high school catcher out of California, received a bonus that weighed in about $646K north of his slot value at No. 26. Emanuels also went over-slot, with both players getting an extra payout from the cash the Athletics saved in signing second-rounder Jeff Criswell and third-rounder Michael Guldberg to below-slot deals.
The A’s obviously had their eyes on Soderstrom entering the draft. All major draft pundits rated him among the 25 best players available. ESPN.com’s Kiley McDaniel was particularly bullish, grading the youngster as the tenth-best player available due to his promise as a hitter.
While it’s awfully tempting to imagine Soderstrom as a bat-first catcher, there’s concern with his ability to develop defensively while also maximizing his offensive potential. It remains to be seen what course the A’s will take, but most scouts seemingly believe Soderstrom is athletic enough — and sufficiently talented with the bat — to man other areas of the diamond (third base or the corner outfield, most likely).
Future HOF’er
Crystal ball says…Tyler Soderstrom will have an identical career to Nick Swisher.
I can’t believe he has the potential to be a Nick Swisher Level douchebag. Swisher was consistently regarded as one of the most hated/irritating players by other players…including teammates.
Wonder if they will use the money that they chose not to pay their minor leaguers plus the money that they stiffed the city of Oakland for the lease to pay this guy?
They’re paying their minor leaguers through August…it’s not hard to, you know, post credible stuff. Also I love how much this team gets under your skin, it’s quite enjoyable.
@statman’s venomous hatred is so hilarious to me. @Rocky7 really hates the A’s too.
Same thing about the guy who ends every line with “their fans…ALL TWO OF THEM!” haha its so funny how much they hate the A’s, but old people suck so much at flaming hahaha
@statman
No they are not
Interesting that they’re adding him to their 60-man “roster” I know it’s just for development purposes as he has no shot of actually playing. But as far as I know he’s the only 1st rd pick of this year on a team’s 60-man squad right? It’ll be a really cool/unique experience for him that’s for sure! The thing that’ll suck for him is he’ll get used to the major League treatment and then next year when he plays at A (or wherever) and has to take the bus everywhere it’ll feel like a massive let down! haha
Marlins added #3 pick Max Meyer to their 60 man yesterday. Might see a few other college age draft picks added in the coming days, especially those that project as RP’s.
Most top draft picks get invited spring training the following year, what makes this unique is that the season is starting after the draft, so the teams get to see their new shiny toys immediately
Not a high school catcher
Rookie ball level players aren’t on the 60 man
High A is a stretch
I believe he’s going to be sitting in Stockton with the other players not on the active roster, right?
Wrong: all these first round draftees of the last few years are on all their teams 60 mans, not just Oakland. Being that there is no minor league this year, all teams will most likely give their top prospects some playing time no matter how new they are. I can see rebuilding teams sitting their vets and letting the youngsters have at it, just to get reps in.
“Getting in reps” at the big league level is new and different to normal, but so is the world now.
Incorrect. The Player Pool will be at 60, but teams will only carry a fraction of those players on the active roster. Teams will also have a 3 player “Taxi Squad” that will travel with the team in case of injury or illness. Soderstrom will not be playing any major league games. He was added to the 60-man only to train with the other players not on the active roster. It’s my understanding that if he were added to the active roster, he would begin accruing service time. That’s not going to happen, especially with Murphy and Allen ready to go this year.
Mariners Emerson Hancock, probably some others but I’m far too lazy to research right now lol. I just know about Hancock cuz I’m an M’s fan…..
Has any team lost a draft pick for spending too much or is that a new rule?
Say, what level is that first rounder they drafted from a year or so back at – Kyler Murray? Oh yeah, forgot he was a football player …. bahahahahahaha!!!
You love talking about this! You always do! Murray was still the best baseball player in the draft, not the A’s fault he went back on his word! You are really smart though!!
Couple that with all of the guys who were first rounders that year that won’t make it to the bigs anyway, one bad pick isn’t that big of a deal. They also took him well before he played as Oklahoma’s first string QB and won the Heisman, something very few people would’ve predicted. Stupid to harp on one team’s failed top-10 pick when every single team in baseball has a dozen crappy ones. That’s the draft. That’s how it works.