Indians sign top picks Francisco Lindor, Dillon Howard

by Jay on Aug 16, 2011 12:09 AM EDT in News

More details to come. Howard signed in the final hour, Lindor evidently in the final minute.

[UPDATE (Ryan)]

Here's the details on the last-minute signings:

SS Francisco Lindor (1st Round): $2.9M, minor-league contract

Lindor had some leverage (a full scholarship at Florida State), but given where he was selected (8th overall), there wasn't much upside to waiting three years to go back into the draft. Tony Lastoria believes he'll get into some games in the Arizona League, and possibly end the minor-league season in Mahoning Valley or Lake County, though it's doubtful he'd play in either place.

RHP Dillon Howard (2nd Round): $1.85M, minor-league contract

According to Baseball America, the slot for this pick was $545,000, but as we've seen in recent years, clubs don't really pay attention to the slot. Howard had committed to Arkansas, and was going to be a tougher sign than Lindor. The Indians ended up paying him first-round money to forgo pitching for his home state college.

With Lindor and Howard signed (and 18th round selection Shawn Armstrong), the Indians have eighteen of their first nineteen picks signed. The two major misses were Stephen Tarpley (8th Round) and Dillon Peters (20th Round), two high-school left-handed pitchers who elected to go to college.

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This is the greatest news I have heard in at least the last 20 minutes!

by TonyH on Aug 16, 2011 12:12 AM EDT reply actions

We got the two of them; reportedly, according to Lastoria, we did NOT SIGN either Tarpley or Peters, but we got what most consider to be the 2 best, so if you could only get 2 of the 4, I think virtually everyone would have preferred Lindor and Howard, which is what the Indians (for around $4.5 million total).

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Aug 16, 2011 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

According to Lastoria, both Tarpley and Peters wanted 7 figures each, despite being picked in the 8th and 20th rounds respectively. For those prices, I don’t mind the Indians passing on them – they got the two biggest ones, along with some other notable talent, some already making an impact in the Minors (Lowery and Roberts; Sisco struggling a bit, but that’s to be expected in his first professional exposure).

Overall, well done Indians – keep up the great work. Now, let’s retake the division! Go Tribe! :-)

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Aug 16, 2011 12:15 AM EDT reply actions

Ridiculous endgame, but good result.

I like the signings of Ruiz and Haase earlier in the week.

by mcrose on Aug 16, 2011 12:18 AM EDT reply actions

Yes, those were good signings also.

Outside of Tarpley in the 8th round, I think the Indians signed everyone in the Top 10. Off the top of my head, only the 17th rounder (Kevin Brady) and 20th rounder (Dillon Peters) were unsigned out of the Top 20 (not sure on this one, but I don’t think I’m missing more than one or two others).

Overall, well done by the Indians, in my opinion. :-)

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Aug 16, 2011 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Wait – one bonus or “last-minute stocking stuffer” – it was reported earlier that 19th rounder RHP Shawn Armstrong was heading back to school and unsigned.

According now to Lastoria, it seems that the Indians also signed Armstrong as well. Another nice job by the Indians – hopefully, that will help to make up for not signing Tarpley and/or Peters (though I don’t blame them at the prices they were demanding and not backing off of).

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Aug 16, 2011 12:19 AM EDT reply actions

Correction – 18th rounder (Armstrong)

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Aug 16, 2011 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions

According to Lastoria, many ML deals were handed out to 1st rounders. That could be the potential for trouble (one example in our not-too-distant past was Jeremy Guthrie, who should have beaten Detroit this past Saturday if not for the implosion he suffered, with 2 outs in the inning, no less. That, unfortunately, has been his track record – pitched well for a while, then all of a sudden implode and not being able to stop it).

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Aug 16, 2011 12:26 AM EDT reply actions

From Lastoria – a list of all of the draft picks and undrafted FAs the Indians signed from the 2011 Draft. The Indians signed 29 out of 50, 58% total.

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Aug 16, 2011 12:27 AM EDT reply actions

One of our writers wrote a detailed Lindor scouting report

Perhaps it is of interest:

http://orioles-nation.com/2011/05/22/francisco-lindor-scouting-report/

www.orioles-nation.com/forums

by Jordan Tuwiner on Aug 16, 2011 1:48 AM EDT reply actions

Ouch, not quite a glowing report. Your scouts saw him as a league average shortstop with plus defense.

"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"

by Gradysmanldy on Aug 16, 2011 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

The guy is like freaking twelve years old with an impossible-to-project ceiling. Any scout report at this point is more art than science, no?

OCab is no longer my bête noire.

by stuart dean on Aug 16, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

League average SS with plus D is a hugely valuable asset.

by Roger Dorn on Aug 16, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree with Roger. That would be an outstanding result. That was what we hoped for out of Asdrubal prior to this season.

by Jay on Aug 16, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s true. My sense with prospects, though, is that scouts will over-project. You want scouts to project greatness, and then if they “only” become a league-average shortstop, you say, “Oh well, that’s pretty good.”

If the scouts project league average, and they inevitably fall short, they just suck.

by Chemo on Aug 16, 2011 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course, like Stuart Dean said, at this point, who knows what this kid will be? It’s all just guesses.

by Chemo on Aug 16, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Can’t believe Lindor wanted that much money. Makes me like the pick even less.

Sad that Peters and Tarpley didn’t sign, but that’s the risk you run with taking guys like that, and I’m glad we are taking those risks.

LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.

by Joe. on Aug 16, 2011 9:51 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

The guys picked above him all got $5M or more. $2.9M is a relative bargain.

@grantgw - sports and Cleveland and Columbus stuff

by woodsmeister on Aug 16, 2011 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, that makes no sense. That looks like a steal to me.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Aug 16, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Especially when you look further down the 1st round. Washington gave Goodwin $3 million for example.

by roywhitby on Aug 16, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Goodwin and Purke were situations where you bribe a high upside guy to not go to college. Neither was discussed in the top 10.

LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.

by Joe. on Aug 16, 2011 11:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Lindor would have to have waited another three years to try again?

OCab is no longer my bête noire.

by stuart dean on Aug 16, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

There was a clear separation in talent from the first 7 and the 8th pick. Lindor was nowhere near a consensus 8 guy and nearly every guy who we passed up got less money.

LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.

by Joe. on Aug 16, 2011 11:29 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

In fact, Law just brought up in his new post the fact that he can’t believe how little Bundy and Bradley signed for.

LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.

by Joe. on Aug 16, 2011 11:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

There was a clear separation in talent from the first 7 and the 8th pick. Lindor was nowhere near a consensus 8 guy and nearly every guy who we passed up got less money.

LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.

by Joe. on Aug 16, 2011 11:29 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

In fact, Law just brought up in his new post the fact that he can’t believe how little Bundy and Bradley signed for.

OCab is no longer my bête noire.

by stuart dean on Aug 16, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs

There was a clear separation in talent from the first 7 and the 8th pick. Lindor was nowhere near a consensus 8 guy and nearly every guy who we passed up got less money.

by jakesinger777 on Aug 16, 2011 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Yawn.

Matt LaPorta is the bane of my existence.

by USSChoo on Aug 16, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Still like the draft overall.

LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.

by Joe. on Aug 16, 2011 12:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Oh, good. Now everyone can pretend to have knowledge and opinions about a whole new group of players that no one has ever seen. I can’t wait to compile a modicum of understanding by reading Law and Goldstein (who probably haven’t seen them either) and then argue with others about what a great (or poor) job a given team is doing in player development.

by afh4 on Aug 16, 2011 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs

Which can keep us busy until rule 5

OCab is no longer my bête noire.

by stuart dean on Aug 16, 2011 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, that and the deep October playoff run.

"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"

by Gradysmanldy on Aug 16, 2011 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Seriously. Thank you for saying what would get someone like me skewered here.

My watch is broken... it's stuck on Tribe Time
#suckitLaw

by Turkmenbashi on Aug 16, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

You’re nuts if you think Law or Goldstein haven’t seen Lindor and Howard in person.

LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.

by Joe. on Aug 16, 2011 4:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Really? Goldstein openly admits to not seeing a ton of these guys. He compiles things from his scouting network. Lindor’s from FL, Law lives in AZ—so, what, he saw him in the Area Code games maybe? As opposed to the Indians scouts, who were likely on him all spring?

The last few years have brough an ever expanding nature of fandom, where it seems like everyone has to have an opinion about every aspect of the organization, regardless of how imperfect the information is. I’m not sure how valuable that is.

by afh4 on Aug 16, 2011 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

My god man, keep preaching. I am 100% with you here. It seems people exhibit so little willingness to step back and say “Hey, you know what? I bet Antonetti has a little bit more info than I do that could explain why the Jimenez trade was made.” or “I bet Tribe scouts have a little more info than I can read on Fan Graphs.”

Seriously.

My watch is broken... it's stuck on Tribe Time
#suckitLaw

by Turkmenbashi on Aug 16, 2011 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I want Bucholtz!

OCab is no longer my bête noire.

by stuart dean on Aug 16, 2011 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Turk, it’s a fanblog. That’s all fair game – I don’t think we need to talk in hushed tones about the Tribe.

by joeee on Aug 16, 2011 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions

But at the same time, it’s not like the front office is infallible or above criticism.

In regards to draft picks, I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt considering most of the dissenters have rarely (if ever) seen even the top guys from the draft, let alone the 5-15 types.

by callmrplow on Aug 17, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

It isn’t that the front office is above criticism.

It’s the almost complete lack of credible critics.

It’s a conundrum, but our best available option isn’t to take confident know-nothings seriously.

by Jay on Aug 17, 2011 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll just get a head start and say #suckitlaw

by callmrplow on Aug 17, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Completely off-topic, but I’ll put this here anyway.

But that’s not the case anymore. The Little League World Series has become an increasingly big business for everyone but the Pedroia-sized players awkwardly fielding fly balls on the Lamade Stadium Field.

From a well-deserved criticism of ESPN’s coverage of LLWS qualifiers.

by FredOx on Aug 16, 2011 2:24 PM EDT reply actions

Are people going to start arguing that the players should be played, or has that happened already?

by jakesinger777 on Aug 16, 2011 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

And of course by ‘played’, I mean ‘paid’.

by jakesinger777 on Aug 16, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

The player has become the played…

by Logodaedalus on Aug 16, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for posting this – the coverage of the LLWS has disappointed me for many years. I didn’t know it had become as obnoxious as this – too bad.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin

by Spidey on Aug 16, 2011 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Eric Haase, #7 pick prep catcher from Michigan, signed last week and is already playing in Arizona games. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see Lindor in games there quite soon. And Ruiz, the Cleveland native, as well.

by mcrose on Aug 16, 2011 4:17 PM EDT reply actions