DES: Are They Worth It?

DES or Draft Eligible Sophomores are, perhaps, the draft's most exotic investment instrument. But, as we learned in 2008 exotic investment instruments aren't always your best bets, and here's why they aren't with DES picks.

Before we get too far into this, picking late, like the Yankees do every year, the Yanks have to look at all categories of kids, in the hopes that a Yankee has possibly slipped through the cracks on signability or underscouting. That being said, individual DES players can absolutely end up being great picks and players. Pictured above is Rob Segedin, one of 5 DES players the Yanks drafted this year, and one of the best hitters in the draft. The Yanks will most likely sign him, as they've had his suspect back checked out by doctors.

Draft Eligible Sophmores have more leverage than the other college players, though they really shouldn't. The DES players have 2 more years of eligibility as opposed to Draft Eligible Juniors who have 1, and Seniors who have none. On the face of it, it looks like the investor is getting a shot at a younger player. But really, both the extra year of eligibility and the appearance of youth are illusions.

DES players get that designation because they were born in the same year as the Juniors in the draft. So, what you are buying is a Junior in age, with 1 less year of development. Does that sound like it's as good a buy as a Junior who is the same age with that extra year development? Not really.

As for the extra years of eligibility, what does the DES really have? Well, if you don't sign him he has the chance to be an old Junior. And an old Junior is little better than a Senior in terms of leverage, and Seniors have no leverage. So while being older than their classmates may help them get into the draft a year earlier, things can go South pretty quickly if they don't make a deal.

The Yankees took 5 DES players in this draft: Rob Segedin, 3B/OF; Stewart IJames, OF; Cameron Hobson, LHP; Kyle Hunter, LHP; and Martin Viramontes, RHP. It seems that they already have an understanding with Segedin and we can surmise this because they took him in the 3rd round, and had already gotten him a physical before the draft. So, this one is most likely in the bag, and we can only hope they don't pay him extra for his "exotic" draft status.

With the other four players, they should play absolute hardball. If they get the prep OF's they like, or Tymothy Pearson (a junior college pick), I don't think they'll take a run at IJames. But they are always open to lights out performances by pitchers in Summer Wood Bat leagues. So Hobson, Hunter and Viramontes remain possibilities.

Hobson and Hunter are both lefties and though the Yanks no longer reach all over the draft for LHPs, they are always on the lookout for southpaws, and the system could use a few. Both of them will have a chance to pitch their way into the plans, but the Yanks shouldn't go too high, because they are as old as juniors, but with one less year of development. I should note that for collegiate pitcher, one less year of devlopment could also be looked at as one less year of abuse to their pitching arms.

The final pitcher, Martin Viramontes is a suspicious case. Martin is one of those picture perfect righties who throws 94. Martin says he expected to be chosen by the Yankees out of High School, but the Angels took him instead. So the Yanks took him this time, and we know there's a previous relationship. He is also a Scott Boras client, so there is that tariff to consider to go along with his phony baloney Sophmore status.

On paper Viramontes gets a serious, "Hell No!" from me. But the game isn't played on paper and if Martin pitches lights out this summer, they should sign him.

You can never have enough pitching. Ever. When you think you finally have enough, GET MORE. Pitchers rock, but they get hurt along the way and there are very few MLB teams that don't find themselves looking for pitching at some point during the season.

Overall, a DES shouldn't get extra-money for being left back in school at some point. But, if a DES is way up there on your board, and doesn't appear to be missing any development, go ahead and sign him, but drive a hard bargain: his alternatives suck.

Btw, Segedin, who seems to be on the way, has an advanced plate approach and will take his walks. That's the key with hitting prospects. Power is awesome, but getting on base is awesomer. Plate discipline is a tool, just like speed, power, defense and throwing are tools. It is almost invariably a BAD thing when the Yanks draft a kid in his 20s who's a free swinger and doesn't know the strikezone. Remember Hilligoss? He couldn't get out of High A.

On a side note, back in the Fall, the Yanks signed a 21 year old IFA named Eladio Moronta who is now on their DSL 2 team. That's the lowest team in their entire farm system. I suspect they're going to have a tough time teaching him the strikezone, and advancing him one level at a time would make him 28 by the time he hits the Bronx. Oh well, they have to swing for the fences and I'm glad they do, because they also found Claudio Custodio and Jorge Alcantara in that same scouting sweep, and those kids, both playing for the higher DSL1 team, are killing the DSL. Soon, there may be nothing left of it. And they're taking their walks. Go scouts!

Maybe tomorrow or Tuesday, we'll look at the other collegiate signability pitchers. Thanks for reading.