The 2024 Philadelphia Phillies Draft Picks, UDFAs, and Signings

[zambonir]

I thought the changes were passed but don't take effect for another year.

Texas already added a women's beach volleyball program, and likely will add another women's team. They were ready.

For sure UT already has insane athletic dorms and meals. It's called the TANC (Texas Athletics and Nutrition Center) and the lowest rower has access to everything the star QB does (at least there).

[andyb]

I was just seeing the articles about the scholarship limits dated in the past week. They take affect in the 2025-26 season I think.

34 scholarships in baseball is going to keep a whole bunch of Spencer types in college by itself. Maybe the value of the college senior in the draft will actually increase since more of the mid-level players will stay in school an extra year. Mind you the bonuses to the college senior will not increase, but the value of drafting them might.

[Austinfan]

Texas system gets 2/3 of the permanent endowment fund.
There are certain restrictions, but it allows other money to be shifted from building facilities.

University of Texas System’s Oil and Gas Participation Fuels Bid to be Biggest...

The Permanent University Fund (PUF)

Permanent University Fund

The original one million acres was "much less desirable land in arid western Texas...it had no timber, was too arid for small farming, and had no special mineral resources that anyone was aware of." In 1883, Texas and Pacific Railroad returned 1 million acres (4,000 km2), deemed too worthless to survey, to the State Government, which turned the land over to the PUF. Initially, the little revenue PUF earned from its lands were from grazing leases.

[allentown]

rom 2010 to 2019 43 of 300 players drafted in the 14th round made at least one appearance in an MLB game. 14.3% Since 2020.. 0 have as of yet.

One appearance not something to plan your life around.

[Austinfan]

Nor is minor league money good enough, unlike say the AHL in hockey, where veterans can get $400-750K.

[andyb]

Here is an Athletic article from yesterday on the new roster limits. I still do think title IX issues will rear their head and be subject to legal challenges and I would not put it past this Supreme Court to eliminate those restrictions. Money > opportunity.

Power conference commissioners plan to set roster limits for House settlement:...

[andyb]

I count 18. Not sure who is missing:

Our 2024 Draft Class is here! pic.twitter.com/RVU8FjBbxR

— Phillies Player Development ( @PhilsPlayerDev ) July 25, 2024

[zambonir]

18 or 19, that is kind of a big deal I'd say. In the past only a handful of picks seemed to come to Philly and the rest just went straight to the complex and signed there. A nicer group experience - presumably including tomorrow's game - and a higher-end introduction to the organization (even if crab fries are cheap).

[Matt_Winkelman]

Dante Nori had apparently stepped out of the room for an interview.

[Austinfan]

19 of 20. Not bad.
Not a great group, but should provide organizational depth.

If they land one starting player and a solid RP, that's more than good enough, especially since it seems they may have figured out LA after two decades of futility, Bergolla, Caba, Tait, even Brito looking pretty good and a bunch of young pitchers.

[andyb]

They have already said they don't really think anyone is a starting candidate among the pitchers.

[phillychuck]

We can hope they are wrong...

[Squire]

I think he meant starting position player and one relief pitcher.

[andyb]

My expectations for any draft are more than that. My whole feeling on the draft has not changed in that is seems to be a mediocre draft where the likely outcome is heavily dependent on the top two picks and we'll be lucky to get any pitching at all out of it. I hope I am wrong of course, but we can dislike a draft and still root for everyone in it.

[fish]

My expectations for any draft are more than that. My whole feeling on the draft has not changed in that is seems to be a mediocre draft where the likely outcome is heavily dependent on the top two picks and we'll be lucky to get any pitching at all out of it.

After the last few drafts i'm beginning to wonder if they think their best outlet for getting starting pitching depth is to go after guys like Sanchez, Mercado and Phillips who've had a few years of development but need further refinement.

[Austinfan]

Hoffman, Alvarado, Strahm as well.

Their ability to find ML and near ML arms has been outstanding, and it allows them to make more upside gambles on draft picks. Young pitchers emerging become bonuses, and they don't need to rush them to the Show.

[andyb]

Well if you don't draft any pitchers with high picks then you are probably not going to get much return.

This is a new strategy for the Phillies and a risky strategy even if position players are considered safer bets. Sometimes one can find low cost pitching. And sometimes they pay $72 million for a 5th starter. This draft will force them to sign more Taijuan Walker type deals for better or worse.

[Austinfan]

Not necessarily.

If they extend Ranger, they'll have 4 starters locked up the next 3 seasons, plus Walker for 2, plus Phillips.
With Painter and Abel starting the season in Lehigh, with Mercado and McGarry in the pen.

That allows you to go with Cabrera, Aldegheri, McGowan, Castellanos, and possibly Klassen/Steward at Reading.

Then you load up the Lehigh pitching staff with veteran retreads and TJ recoveries.

[andyb]

If you don't develop pitching you just can't on counting on all your pitchers to stay healthy and pitch well. I hope they extend Ranger, but Ranger staying good and healthy for 4 or 5 more years is just hard to count on.

Teams really don't develop talent with an eye towards filling major league holes in a few years. They develop talent to develop as much talent as possible. And even extending Ranger means they are spending yet another $20 million a year on pitching (which is central to my point). If you stop developing much pitching you need to go out and pay for pitching.

[Austinfan]

On the other hand, if you're really good at finding ML arms to fill out your staff, you don't need to develop quantity.
It's not like their track record with 2nd day pitchers is all that great.