Because Boras is scaring off some of the teams ahead of them, a player or two who might normally be off the board could be available... Do [the Brewers] make a bold move and select a Boras client with tremendous talent or go for a safer, easier-to-sign player who might not be as special?

"That's a decision we have to make," said general manager Doug Melvin, who sat in on the team's draft meetings at a downtown hotel this week..."We may be bold. We haven't decided yet."
...
But if the Brewers ever are going to take a chance, this would be the year. Because of a high number of compensation picks after the first round and the forfeiture of their second-round pick to St. Louis for signing free agent Jeff Suppan, the Brewers don't select again until No. 101 in the third round.

That gap could embolden the Brewers to take a chance with one of Boras' players.
...
"That's a risk you maybe take. We've discussed it, but we haven't determined it yet," said Melvin. "Would we take a player at the risk of not signing him? Then you'd get another player next year.

"If you're at least getting a player next year it might be worth the gamble to take a guy and negotiate, see if you can convince them this is the place to sign. We're not saying we won't take a Boras guy."

Will it get higher ratings than the Stanley Cup on NBC?

The Royals focused on four high school players Wednesday night in narrowing their choices for selection with the second overall pick in today’s draft.

Third baseman Josh Vitters appeared to top a list that also consisted of shortstop Matt Moustakas, right-hander Jarrod Parker and catcher Devin Mesoraco.
...
“We’re going to select a player,” general manager Dayton Moore said, “who has a realistic view of his value."
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That explains why the club’s list does not include right-hander Rick Porcello, who is represented by Scott Boras and is believed to be seeking a deal in excess of $8 million.

Moustakas is listed at 6 feet, 185 pounds. He's only 18 years old but certainly hits like a grown-up. He's the guy the Cubs should select in Thursday's amateur draft, even though the difficult Scott Boras represents him.
...
On the eve of the draft, it wasn't clear which way the Cubs would go. Indiana gas man Jarrod Parker—he of the unnatural fastball—and Josh Vitters, like Moustakas a high school infielder from California, were being heavily discussed, according to sources.
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But the thing that almost definitely scares the Cubs away from Wieters is that he's looking for a three- or four-year major-league contract in the vicinity of $10 million total.

It remains unclear if the Cubs can take on obligations beyond 2007 as Tribune Co. takes itself private. Lawyerly language to that regard appears to be what suspended the talks between Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs in April. With an Aug. 15 deadline to sign picks—another new twist this year—the Cubs would be taking a big risk selecting Wieters.

Vitters, 6 feet 2, 195 pounds, from Cypress, Calif., has an outstanding bat and should develop into a power hitter. Baseball America, famed for its ranking of prospects, has Vitters No. 1 among high school players in its "best pure hitter" and "closest to the majors" categories.

That, of course, is why the Cubs like him and could snatch him from the Pirates... So, what if the Pirates don't have a chance at Vitters and decide to pass on Wieters?
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That could leave the Pirates to pick from Missouri State left-hander Ross Detwiler, Clemson left-hander Daniel Moskos and high school outfielder Jason Heyward.

Then there's Beau Mills, whose father, Brad, coaches with the Boston Red Sox. Beau Mills' name has surfaced in some quarters as the Pirates' first-round pick.

That includes Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters, who is believed to sit atop the list of potential picks for the Orioles at No. 5. He'll be given serious consideration if he's available, according to multiple sources, even with Boras in the mix.
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An Orioles official joked that the dollar figures make him uneasy as well, but Wieters remains a favorite within the front office. The official said he would expect the Washington Nationals to grab Wieters with the sixth pick if the Orioles pass on him.
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As for the cost of signing Wieters, one official said the team still was trying to determine which past selections Boras deems comparable to the catcher. The Orioles hoped to have a better understanding by last night.

Wieters and Canadian right-hander Phillippe Aumont appear to be the top names on the Orioles' board, though they'll also strongly consider Missouri State left-hander Ross Detwiler, who could be taken by the Kansas City Royals with the second pick.

Though some top Nationals executives prefer to take a hitter with the sixth pick, it's possible that Porcello, who will be represented by the notoriously hard-driving Scott Boras, could fall in the draft and be available at No. 6. The club would then have a choice -- take Porcello and risk not being able to sign him, or take another player they like less.
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Still, several club officials would like to end up with either Vitters or Moustakas.

The Rockies appeared to be leaning toward right-handed closer Casey Weathers of Vanderbilt, a junior college outfielder who has dominated hitters at the major-college level.

His fastball runs 95 mph to 98 mph, complimented by an 89 mph silder.

Also in consideration are left- handed reliever Dan Moskos of Clemson, third baseman Mike Moustakas of Chastworth (Calif.) High School and right-handed pitcher Phillippe Aumont, a high schooler out of Quebec.

The Diamondbacks have Boras clients ranked highly on their board, but they aren't expected to select one, not after giving Boras client, Max Scherzer, their first-round pick from last year, a guaranteed $4.3 million last week.

If they are, in fact, staying away from Boras clients - a talented stable that includes New Jersey prep pitcher Rick Porcello, Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters and California prep slugger Mike Moustakas - it would benefit them if the three players are selected among the top eight picks.

Should that happen, the club might be able to choose from a handful of pitchers, including: Canadian prep right-hander Phillipe Aumont, Clemson lefty Daniel Moskos, Indiana prep right-hander Jarrod Parker, Arkansas lefty Nick Schmidt or Vanderbilt right-hander Casey Weathers.

Will it get higher ratings than the Stanley Cup on NBC?
People watch hockey?

"I can't imagine all six teams ahead of us won't sign their players," Melvin said. "We might drop to eighth or ninth at the most. I think three or four of the other clubs are going to want their players and will sign them."

Is there an article I can read that describes how the order was set?

Losing Type A free agents draws a draft pick from the signing club as well as a supplemental pick, as before, but losing Type B free agents now gets a team a supplemental pick instead of a pick from the signing club. Type C free agents no longer get any compensation, thus eliminating the supplemental second round.

So that means he expects two or three of the top six teams to not sign their draft picks?

I have a hard time understanding why the Royals are balking so much at Scott Boras' pay demands. Let me get this straight - they just spent $55 million on a guy that produced the numbers of a #4 starter, hoping he would turn into a #1 starter like Jason Schmidt or Chris Carptenter. But they won't spend the $2-4 million extra it would take to land Matt Wieters or Rick Porcello. Huh?

The Royals have apparently settled on Vitters.

I don't see why slotting would eliminate that bit of strategy though.

Just my opinion here, but the compensation for not signing a draft pick is being way overlooked here. Draftees have lost an incredible hammer with this rule change...why would the Royals vastly overpay slot for the #2 pick when they'll have the #3 pick next year? Will Vitters reach the majors and be more productive than some of the stud college hitters eligible next year? I doubt it.

The tradeoff that MLB would have to give the MLBPA in order to get NBA-style slotting would be the elimination of draft pick compensation.

-- MWE

Talent, even unproven talent, has value. I see nothing wrong with allowing players to recoup the market value for their talent. If spending money on the draft was an inefficient use of resources, I would expect the Giants to be a better team. At it's core, unless you have a vested interest in keeping salaries down (or unless you just want your small market team to have a better chance at the top players), being offended at the size of the bonuses that drafted players receive smacks of old-fogeyism.

That was my thought exactly. If you're the Pirates why not draft Wieters or Porcello? What do you have to lose??

Reminds me of when Todd Van poppel told the then awful Braves organization not to draft him because he would not sign with them, leading them to draft one Chipper Jones. As a Braves fan, I can only say "Thank you Todd Van Poppel"

- It would make minor league baseball alot more interesting since teams would be more focused on winning than developing players.

Huh? How would the amount of minor league teams affect the readiness of a prospect? If a player is not ready, he's not ready, regardless of if there's 1 minor league team or 4.

Will MLB bring in Jets fans to boo each pick?