Yankee Draft `13 Jagielo Signs for Slot

Good news in Yankeeland,  their first first rounder this year, 3B Eric Jagielo has signed for slot.    Of course it would be better if they had gotten him for less, but if he had held out it would have jammed up the the rest of their negotiations.   They have to get them all done by July 12.    Of course this brings up a few interesting issues.   First, what does that mean for the other two first rounders?  And what does that mean for the rest of the draft?

I actually think both Judge and Clarkin will come in for around slot.  Judge because there was a very good chance he would miss the first round entirely, and Clarkin because the Yankees have more leverage than is easily seen on that one.   First, if the Yanks are successful in getting Judge for slot, they will have locked in their top two picks without creating any room for their back 39 rounds.    So whether Clarkin signs for slot or not, all savings will have to be drawn from rounds 2-10.   Thus, if Clarkin doesn't sign for slot the Yanks can just punt the slot.   I believe they'd get another comp pick next year.  

He's now in no-man's land between two fixed costs and everything else the Yanks want to do.  And nobody else wanted him for whatever price he was floating in the first.   What's more if the Yankees thought that Clarkin was a 2 million dollar value, they would have taken him at 26, but they didn't..   I think he'll come in closer to slot or they'll punt the pick.  They aren't getting any savings from it, so they don't need it.

That leaves the rest of the draft.   The Yanks will have to really squeeze picks 2-10 if they want to lock up some of the intriguing players they took between rounds 11 and 40.   That is, unless this is a year they want to go over and forfeit net year's one so they can lock up some of the late guys.    This would become even more likely if Clarkin ends up pricing him out of their plans.   They will probably get two more comp first next year for Granderson and Hughes, so if Clarkin doesn't come aboard, they'd either have 4 if they keep next year's first or three if they trade it for more money to spend this year.  

We'll have to see, but Clarkin does not have as much leverage as some think, especially if Judge comes in at slot.