Looking ahead to the 2017 draft

[fish]

Oregon State’s Luke Heimlich removed from some MLB draft boards after revelation...

One American League general manager told Yahoo Sports his team “won’t go anywhere near” Heimlich following the report.

WOW. Well, good to find out before someone drafts him and finds out. I'm all for equal opportunity for those right with the law, but that doesn't work for people with job positions that make them public figures.

[Dirk41]

I totally agree. He screams "A's type pitcher" to me in some shape or form. I hope the Phillies are wise enough to see past the late struggles.

[Lawman]

Round 1 forecast: MLB Draft starts Monday

8. Phillies: Pavin Smith, 1B, Virginia
It looks like a collegian for Philadelphia, more likely a hitter (Haseley, Smith, maybe Missouri State third baseman Jake Burger) than a pitcher (Florida right-hander Alex Faedo, UCLA righty Griffin Canning). If the Phillies want a high schooler, it could be Baz.

[Squire]

Almaraz Press Conference comments:

1. Strength of the draft is college pitching and the Phillies will get their share.

2. With respect to Pick #8, there is a small group of elite HS players (not sure whether he meant to say hitters instead, college hitters and college pitchers. He seemed to say that if certain guys are there they could pick any one of those three.

3. Picking at 8, we can't predict so we have to line up the board with the best 1-10.

4. Possibility that they could cut a deal at 8 (if they view 8-15 as the same value). Its a chess game not a checkers game.

5. Again emphasizes college pitchers throughout the entire draft.

6. Randolph and Moniak are exactly where he thought they would be at this stage of their career.

7. Seemed to indicate that the depth of the system would not cause him to take a more toolsy player. He focuses on baseball ability more than tools.

8. His philosophy is to NOT give away a single pick.

9. Board is still evolving. Working the boards into the teens rounds, and 20s rounds.

I got to tell you.....Almaraz says the right things from my perspective.

Lastly, just FYI but today is the big CBP draft prospect workout day.

[gmwannabe]

Squire, any news of who was invited and who showed up?
gm

[Squire]

I asked Ryan Lawrence but he didn't reply. I suspect they swear the press to secrecy on that.

[gmwannabe]

you're probably right on that. sometime after the draft some info leaks out as to who/whom was there.

[allentown]

I also love his answers, especially the one about NOT giving away a single pick. You need some underslot seniors in the first 10 rounds, but they can be pitchers who are decent candidates to become MLB relievers or 5th starters.

[schooldoc]

I'd be very happy with Bukauskas at 8 but I'm having a hard time imagining the Phillies taking him. Maybe I'm stuck on the old regime's way of thinking. They'd fall in love with a few BP home runs from Beck today at CBP and pop him at 8.

[Austinfan]

This regime would fall in love with Beck's quick stroke which gives them confidence he can learn to wait on pitches and hit the breaking ball.

[teabag259]

Latest MLB Daily Dish mock has the Phils taking Bukauskas.

Composite Mock Draft 3.0

[fish]

I'd be very happy with Bukauskas at 8 but I'm having a hard time imagining the Phillies taking him. Maybe I'm stuck on the old regime's way of thinking. They'd fall in love with a few BP home runs from Beck today at CBP and pop him at 8

Completely agree- I'd love Bukauskas, but i read Almarez' first sentence and my mind went right to the big lefty Peterson. Then I realized, crap, he could also be describing Faedo.

Peterson is the only guy I'd consider picking to 'save' money.

[flyers19rw]

Based on this season, he's the college pitcher who has made the most improvement. It has been said that a lot of that is due to changes that he made in his mechanics. The K/BB ratio is impressive. Was a West Coast summer league AS in '16 and all PAC 12. Also he would be a rare thing in the system being a lefty.

[Squire]

I'd be ok with Peterson assuming some discount off of 4.7. We do need LHPs and it would be nice to have some $$ muscle at 45 and 83

[Squire]

Callis with a scoop. Just tweeted that Pavin Smith looked very good in his private workout at CBP today hitting several in the upper deck and that the Phillies tried him out in RF as well.

[Dirk41]

Please no.

I read somewhere that his ceiling is a league average first baseman. Not exactly something that is that hard to find

[allentown]

I'd be ok with Peterson assuming some discount off of 4.7

That is a definite change from the old regime. The Phillies could be relied upon to make a real stretch of a first pick (the sort of guy BA would invariably describe pre-draft as a Phillies-type pick) and then pay him precisely the bonus suggested by Selig -- never a negotiation to save money for later rounds. The new regime seems far more sophisticated in this regard, with last year as a prime example -- yes, everyone saved money on the 1.1, but you can bet the old Phillies would have paid the slot amount to the penny. The handling of the total bonus pool will be an interesting process to follow in this draft.

[phillychuck]

Dirk, if they pick him I'll assure you that their scouts see his ceiling much higher than the guy at "read somewhere."

[allentown]

I'll assure you that their scouts see his ceiling much higher than the guy at "read somewhere."

True, but I'd still be disappointed if we draft him. The talk of banging long HRs in batting practice especially scares me. I know he's not LGJ, but he's also not a guy noted for plus in-game power and raw power still strikes me as a phantom tool. Without a plus hit tool, which admittedly Pavin Smith does have, there is no in-game power. So, he's got the hit tool, not all that much game power, so why should we care how good a BP session he had for our brass? For the record, I expect Hoskins to be a plus MLB 1B and Joseph to be about average. Without them, I'd be more amenable to Smith. A pitcher or one of the H.S. OFs would make me happiest.

[phillychuck]

Callis with a scoop. Just tweeted that Pavin Smith looked very good in his private workout at CBP today hitting several in the upper deck and that the Phillies tried him out in RF as well.

He hit them in the 300 level? Holy cow, that's a long way. Especially with a wood bat.