Breaking News: 2008 Draft

It has been announced by Yankee 2nd Round pick closer Scott Bittle (75th overall pick) that he and the Yankees have hit a snag in negotiations. It appears a medical examination of Bittle showed wear and tear on his Right throwing shoulder. Bittle has had multiple doctors look at the shoulder and none of the doctors seems to agree with that doctor. Bittle has said, as well as his college coach, that he wants nothing more than to sign with the Yankees before the deadline, but the problem now is with this examination, the Yankees still want him, but they want him to take a cut in his signing bonus. Bittle does not seem interested in takin such a cut, so it unknown whether this lifeling Yankee fan will don the pinstripes. I don't really get it, Bittle's numbers where absolutley pheonominal and he pitched a heavy load this past college season above par compared to most collegiate closers, so I just don't see how it could be that big of an injury. Also noteworthy, last years 2nd Round pick Austin Romine signed a $500,000 bonus, which is typical for that round. It is believed the Yankees want to go lower than that. My personal opinion is that the Yankees are trying to get the 1st Round Pick, Gerrit Cole, signed and he is asking for $7 mill. Also ahead of Bittle is Sandwhich pick Jeremy Bleich who since drafted higher will likely get more money, I am guessing he will demand somewhere between $1 mill and $750,000. That means the first 2 picks will take up ove $8 million. Plus the Yanks have coveted High Schoolers RHP Brett Marshall (6th Round) and catcher Kyle Higashioka (7th Round). Both of those players are likely asking for around $1 mill. If this all plays out, the Yanks will spend $9 mill on 3 unproven high schoolers and lose 2 proven and can't miss college stars who are asking around a combined $1mill to 1,750,000. So the lesson here is if you go to college and face tougher competition, you won't get signed for $500,000 so a high school kid can get his $7 million.
They have less than a month to (24 days) to sign Bleich and Bittle and they need to get moving.

Pinstriped As Always,
Laura