The Athletics have locked in both of their top two picks from this year’s MLB Draft, and they did it with bonuses that went above slot, according to a source who spoke to MLB.com. The club has not confirmed the signings yet.
First-rounder Drew Burress, taken eighth overall, agreed to a $7.5 million deal, topping the slot value of $6,982,600. That figure is expected to make him the highest pick in this draft to land an over-slot bonus.
Burress came out of Georgia Tech ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 7 Draft prospect, and the appeal is pretty easy to see.
The outfielder brings above-average-to-plus tools across the board, and he backed that up by launching a Yellow Jackets-record 60 home runs over three seasons. His 5-foot-9 build has been one of the main questions, but the bat stands out, and he may be able to remain in center field as a pro.
The A’s also reached agreement with second-round pick Mason Edwards, the No. 47 overall selection, at $2.4 million. That beats the slot figure of $2,131,300.
Edwards, a left-handed pitcher from USC, was MLB Pipeline’s No. 36 Draft prospect.
The 21-year-old works with a three-pitch mix, highlighted by a deceptive fastball in the low-to-mid-90s and a curveball that was viewed as maybe the best in the Draft. This spring, he piled up 169 strikeouts in 95 2/3 innings for the Trojans, the most in Division I.
In Other News...
As Suddenly Have A Scary New Injury Concern With Kuroda-Grauer
Kuroda-Grauers rapid start has been one of the more encouraging developments for the Athletics since his MLB debut, which is why his latest trip through a game against the D-backs drew immediate attention. The rookie has been performing well enough to put himself firmly on the radar, and the As have had plenty of reason to keep watching how his bat and glove translate as he settles into the majors.
The concern arrived after he fouled a ball off his groin during the game, then stayed in briefly before being replaced on defense in the sixth inning. Oakland announced the injury afterward, and while the club has not yet offered a longer-term update, any pause for a player who has been producing this well is enough to make his status worth monitoring closely. [Read more 🡒]
As Forced Into Another Painful Roster Shakeup After Brutal Injury Night
The Athletics were forced into another roster shuffle after a rough stretch on the injury front, placing right-hander Mark Leiter on the 15-day injured list retroactive to July 19 with a right hip impingement and sending infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer to the 10-day injured list. To help cover the openings, Oakland recalled right-hander Hayden Juenger from Triple-A Las Vegas and brought back infielder Max Muncy, who had been optioned earlier this month.
For an As club already trying to piece together innings and infield depth, the timing is especially unwelcome. Juenger gives Oakland another fresh arm after arriving in a trade, while Muncy returns for a second stint with the big-league club, but the larger concern is how quickly the roster keeps changing around injuries that have already forced the team to keep adjusting on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Another A's IL Move Leaves This Thin Roster In A Tough Spot
The Athletics roster took another hit this week when right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. landed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to July 19 with a right hip impingement, while infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer also went on the 10-day IL after surgery. For a club already working with little margin for error, the timing only sharpens the strain on the depth chart and forces the front office to keep shuffling pieces just to cover innings and infield reps.
Hayden Juenger and Max Muncy were brought back up in the corresponding moves, giving Oakland a couple of fresh options as it tries to patch things together. Leiters absence is especially frustrating because the hip issue has now surfaced again this season, and with the trade deadline approaching, every missed outing matters for a pitcher whose value was already under pressure. [Read more 🡒]