Atlanta Braves sign Beck, Graffanino, Shetter : Stewart still unsigned

As the June draws to a close, the Atlanta Braves continue to sign newly drafted prospects. Still unsigned: first-round selection Carter Stewart.

Today the MLB Draft Tracker added contract amounts for Tristan Beck, AJ Graffanino, Ryan Shetter and Cameron Kurz.

I wrote about the Kurz signing when it appeared on the Braves transactions page. At that time the tracker didn’t list his bonus, today we know he received $75,000.

That’s about $50K below the maximum he could have received. For the Braves that’s good financially but doesn’t affect the pool for the first nine selections. It now looks as if the Braves might go over their pool allocation and incur a penalty.

Tristan Beck

The Atlanta Braves selected Beck in the fourth round – their third pick in the draft. The 6’-4, 165-pound RHP out of Corona High School and Stamford started the draft ranked baseball’s #31 by Baseball America and #35 according to MLB Pipeline.

Pipeline scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

Beck suffered a stress fracture in his back and missed the entire 2017 season.  He returned this season and made 14 starts posting a 2.99 ERA, 1.22 WHIP with 66 strikeouts and 29 walks in 84 innings. If not for the injury many believed a first-round selection was in his future.

I wrote extensively about Beck after the selection and won’t bore you with the same stuff now. The link takes you to that post.

At the time I believe a signing at slot looked likely. Nope, Beck received a $900K bonus, $402.2K over slot.

AJ Graffanino and Ryan Shetter

I wrote about these selections with the scouting information available when they were chosen. The Atlanta Braves selected Graffanino in the eighth round and Shetter in the ninth.

Graffanino’s scouting report – at the link above – portrayed him as a glove-first prospect without much projection at the plate.  Baseball America ranked him #242 overall and although Graffanino played as a junior, he was a fourth-year junior without eligibility remaining.

With players generally regarded as better prospects still available, a thin resumé and his lack of eligibility, this looked like a chance to save pool money. Nope, wrong again Fred. The Braves gave AJ a $300K bonus, $125.7K over slot.

Another fourth-year junior, Shetter pitched as both a starter and in relief for the Texas Tech squad in the College World Series. His draft report resides here, below Graffanino’s.

I believed he would sign below slot and this time I guessed accurately. The Braves gave Stetter $135K, $16.2 under slot. Put your calculators away, I’ve updated the tracking sheet and here’s how we stand.

The money

Slot allocation for the player selected one-eight comes to $4,980,700. The Braves remaining pool sits at $4,949,800, $30,900 less than slot.

There’s a 50% tax on every dollar spent above the pool allocation up to the 10% excess spending mark. They aren’t going to exceed that (I hope) so there’s no risk of the most severe penalties.

If he agrees to sign at slot, that $30.9K becomes $46.35 and the final cost to the team $4,996150, If the bonus agreed on lands on an even $5M, the real cost to the Braves is $5,025,100

Once again, that’s not huge money in today’s game. The team’s committed another $2.025M on signings in rounds 11-40. Nolan Kingham, Victor Vodnick, and Ty Harpenau tare he three of the remaining eight late-round selectees most likely to sign.

As long as those signings stay below $125K each it won’t cast additional tax money.

Late Update

This afternoon I found that Nolan Kingham actually signed yesterday but neither the Braves transactions page nor the MLB Draf Tracker listed it.

That’s a wrap

Kingham, Harpenau et all have no leverage in the out rounds and pretty much have to sign or spend a year in independent ball.

The Graffanino bonus shocked me when I first saw it but after a deep breath that equal to the maximum the Braves can pay a 16-year old kid from Latin America who man never leave the DSL.

Next: It's Max not, Matt

That’s all for today. When more prospects come on board, I’ll let you know here at the Take.