Jacob Nottingham signing bonus official

Baseball America's Jim Callis is reporting that 6-167 pick Jacob Nottingham signed for $300,000. Slot for the pick was $270,200. Nottingham is the first pick to sign for over slot thus far.

This means that the Astros are now $2,500 over their bonus pool allotment for the picks they have announced (with signing bonuses, anyway).

Signings announced with bonuses:

4-107: Conrad Gregor: $481,900 (+/- $0)
6-167: Jacob Nottingham: $300,000 (+ $29,800)
7-197: James Ramsay: $175,000 (-$27,300)
8-227: Jason Martin: $159,700 (+/- $0)

Conrad Gregor signing bonus announced

Baseball America's Jim Callis announced this morning that 4th Round pick Conrad Gregor signed for $481,900, which is right at the slot recommendation for the 4-107 pick.

The Astros total confirmed bonuses now sit at $816,600 with $10,548,100 remaining and are still $27,300 under their pool for the picks in which they have signed.

Draft picks are tight-lipped about bonuses

In addition to Tony Kemp not talking about the exact amount of his signing bonus (and who can blame him?), the same can be said for 26th Round pick Austin Chrismon.

I'd rather not say how much it was. But it was definitely enough to not go back to school at this moment. Plus, (the Astros) will be covering my last three semesters of school. It really was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

Draft picks selected after the 10th Round can sign for up to $100,000 without penalizing the team's bonus pool, but I've been curious if the "paying for school" promise applies to that $100,000 limit. Will try to find an answer soon, but it's something the Astros have promised to Tony Kemp, as well.

Rio Ruiz to sign

MLB Trade Rumors and Keith Law are reporting that 3B Rio Ruiz will sign with Houston for an expected signing bonus of 1.85M. The bonus comes in at approximately 1.49M over slot value, and is the equivalent bonus of the 20th overall pick.

The Astros went approximately 2.7M over slot to sign supplemental 1st round choice Lance McCullers and Ruiz.

Draft Math Update

Alright, so with the signing bonuses rolling in, let's do some math and figure out how the Astros are doing financially with the new system:

Total Bonus Pool: $11,200,000 to spread over 11 players.
Committed Bonuses: $5,150,000 (Correa, Phillips, Minor)
Other signees, at slot: $889,900 (Rodgers, Aplin, Bircher)
Total bonuses: $6,039,900
Recommended bonuses for unsigned players: $2,754,800

If we add up the total bonuses (again, we're having to guess at Rodgers, Aplin, and Bircher), both committed and recommended, we get $8,919,700 - or $2,280,300 under the allotment. So it's possible that the Astros could bump McCullers' offer up to $2.5m and still have $1,039,000 left to go after the prep unsignables (Ruiz, Virant, Hinojosa, Traver). Also, keep in mind that if the Astros do not sign Ruiz, they lose the $360,200 recommended for his draft position.

10th Rounder Joe Bircher was a senior (as is 7th Rounder Preston Tucker), so it's doubtful they signed right at slot, likely giving more wiggle room to the numbers.

More draft picks sign

Two more "unofficial" picks signed yesterday (meaning, news didn't come from Astros.com):

From KZTV, we also find that 9th Round pick Daniel Minor has signed for $50,000. Recommended slot for the 279th overall pick is $131,500. We'll do the math for you and tell you that the Astros saved $81,500 on this pick.
And from the Greensboro Times-Record we find that 37th Round pick Michael Dimock has signed.

Bobby Heck did confirm that eight more draft picks signed with the Astros yesterday:

5th Round pick Andrew Aplin
12th Round pick Terrell Joyce
13th Round pick Brian Holmes
14th Round pick Joe Sclafani
15th Round pick Erick Gonzalez
18th Round pick Ricky Gingras
30th Round pick John Neely
31st Round pick M.P. Cokinos

*With these updates, the Astros are currently $2,481,500 under their bonus pool.

Correa receives $4.8m bonus

Unbelievable. Not only did the Astros sign their #1 overall pick in the same week as he was drafted, but the reported signing bonus (so discovered by Baseball America) is $4.8m - or less than half of the bonus received by 2010 #1 overall pick, Bryce Harper - or, if you're still doing figures - $2.4m less than the recommended slot for the #1 overall pick of $7.2m.

Incredible news on would could be a historic draft for the Astros.

Correa signs for (reported) $5.135m

With a captip to Brian Hamilton for finding it and passing it on, Moisekapenda Bower is reporting (via sources) that Carlos Correa will sign today, for $5.135m - $2m and change under the recommended slot for the 1-1 pick.

This is huge, as the Astros can increase their offer to Lance McCullers from the recommended $1.2587m to about $3.2587m (if they commit all of that to McCullers). That $3.25m+ is the recommended slot value of the 1-6 pick.

Let's say the Astros split the savings from Correa between McCullers and #129 overall pick Rio Ruiz. McCullers would then receive around the equivalent of the #15 overall pick ($2.25m) and Ruiz would receive around the equivalent of the 38th overall pick ($1.36m) - which may not be enough because, if you recall, Ruiz told Inside SoCal he wanted Top-10 money. The slot recommendation for the 10th overall pick is $2.7m.

The Astros gave out the 2nd-highest bonus in the league

When the Astros gave Ariel Ovando $2.6m, it was the 2nd-highest bonus given out to an international player, $200K behind the Blue Jays' bonus to Adonys Cardona.

Astros sign Dominican RHP

Sports Illustrated's Melissa Segura tweeted that the Astros have signed 6'3" Dominican RHP Luis Abad for a "low, six-figure bonus." The Astros have been interested in Abad since May.

Here's what she said about Abad:
Abad's 6'3" and lanky w/ fstball in low 90s. Highly regarded prospect.

In May, MLBTR ranked Abad the 10th-best prospect eligible in the Dominican Republic:

Hitting 92 mph and weighing 160 pounds soaking wet, the 6'3" Abad is one of the most projectable pitchers you'll see.

Wates signs, nobody else does

So the Astros went above slot to sign Austin Wates to a reported $550,000 bonus last night.

Meanwhile, $1 million + apparently wasn't enough to draw Adam Plutko away from UCLA.

Bobby Heck, on the players who didn't sign:

"We exhausted all avenues with the players that we believed were ready to begin their respective professional careers. There were a handful of offers on the table up until the signing deadline that would be viewed as significant, but those players chose college as the next step in their baseball development."

Then Heck goes the Job Security route:

"The work of this scouting staff can not be understated as they have not only identified the talent, signed the players but our scouts also recognized and valued the character, work ethic, and desire of these prospects. Today was another step forward for the Houston Astros organization, and I cannot say enough about the continued support of our front office leadership and our owner Drayton McLane."

Astros officially sign DeShields

Alright, #8 is officially on board.

Bobby Heck:
"We’re very excited that the negotiation process is now in the rear-view mirror and we are able to add this gifted baseball player to the Houston Astros organization. It will be fun watching Delino put his talent to work and begin his journey back here to Minute Maid Park."

Ed Wade:
"Delino fits perfectly into what we’re trying to do at the developmental level. He is strong, athletic and dynamic. He’s got great bloodlines and is focused on being a successful big leaguer."

KHOU:
The eighth overall selection was the highest for the Astros since the 1992 draft when the club selected IF Phil Nevin.

Note: the KHOU line is notable if only because it is the first time in 18 years that the Astros' 1992 draft has not been referred to as, "when the club didn't select Derek Jeter."

UPDATE: Brian McTaggart says the signing bonus was for $2.15m.

No word on Myers' extension yet

We'll save any judgment on this Brett Myers extension until details emerge as to the length/money, which aren't yet known. What we do know is that Myers has taken "parts" of a physical - perhaps having already turned his head, but not yet coughing.

Evan Grills signed for $150,000

Because I'm interested in signing bonuses, mainly in a masochistic way to see how financially insignificant my life is, we read here that 10th Round pick Evan Grills' signing bonus was for $150,000.

International Signing Time!

Baseball America's Ben Badler is reporting that the Astros have signed 16-year old Dominican outfielder Ariel Ovando for reportedly between $2.6 and $2.8 million.

Bobby Heck:
"This is a high-caliber talent who we think has a chance to be an impact bat and would be a definite first-rounder in any draft...We think there's hit skill here more than just raw bat speed and a high ceiling for power, too. We think he has damage to do both as a hitter and with power."

Badler:
Ovando will begin his career in right field, but the biggest draw for most scouts is his outstanding physical frame at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, and lefthanded power.

Click the link for video from Baseball America.

From Astros.com:
Ovando, who will be 17 on September 15, has signed a minor league contract for 2011. This season, he is expected to first report to the Astros Latin American complex in Boca Chica, DR, in the upcoming days and then is scheduled to participate in the Florida Instructional League in Kissimmee, FL in September.

Wade:
"We're extremely excited to get Ariel into the Astros organization. (Special Assistant to the GM) Felix (Francisco) did a lot of work on this kid and we also were able to have some of our other evaluators scout him over the past several months. Ariel profiles as a middle of the order power hitter with excellent defensive skills. He profiles as a front line major league right fielder and should move quickly through the minor league system."

Francisco:
Darryl Strawberry type body. Large frame. Long arms and legs with a lot of room to fill out. Everyday right fielder with the ability to hit for average and power. Ball carries off bat. Will be an above average right fielder with an average to above-average arm. Smart kid who has a clear goal in life and is dedicated.

Read the Astros.com article for scouting reports, but all indications are that this is an excellent signing.

41st Round pick Bryce Lane got 15th Round money

The Panama City News-Herald has an article on the signings of some local players, including 41st Round pick Bryce Lane:

Lane was rewarded for his patience in the process. His low draft slot came with a larger signing bonus, he told the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer. He didn’t divulge the bonus amount, but said the Astros signed him with a figure similar to those given to players taken in the 15th round.

Foltynewicz finally agrees

Baseball America's Jim Callis says that the Astros have signed #19 overall pick Mike Foltynewicz to a $1.3 million signing bonus.

It's official-ish: Kvasnicka signs

Zach Levine is tweeting that 1st Round (Supplemental) pick Mike Kvasnicka has signed with the Astros:

Astros sign Michael Kvasnicka, supplemental first-rounder. He said he was making himself signable for slot money all along.

Levine's further article says he signed for $936,000, and will start the season at Tri-City.

Astros agree to deal with Foltynewicz

Astros 19th overalll pick Mike Foltynewicz has apparently agreed to a deal with the Astros for $1.3 million.

McTaggart has some quotes from advisor Bobby Witt:

"Some of the other things regarding school and other stuff have to be worked out. As far as the Astros and terms, they have been agreed upon."

Signing Bonus time

As is customarily the case with draft picks, the question on whether or not they'll sign is tied to the bonus the pick is expecting (see: Jones, JaCoby). Here we took a look at some of the signing bonuses by the 2009 draft class. What can the NewStros expect in the way of cash?

Well, first, we can see what has already been given out.

Texas' 1st Round (15th overall) pick, Jake Skole, got $1.557 million. The Rangers also signed their 22nd overall pick for a below-slot $1m. The Phillies signed their 1st pick (27th overall) for a $1.16m bonus.

Here's what the first ten Astros picks got in 2009:

Jiovanni Mier (21st overall): $1.358m
Tanner Bushue (69th): $530,000
Telvin Nash (100th): $330,300
Jonathan Meyer (111th): $274,500
B.J. Hyatt (131st): $200,000
Brandon Wikoff (161st): $154,000
Enrique Hernandez (191st): $150,000
Dallas Keuchel (221st): $150,000
Brandt Walker (251st): $150,000
Ben Orloff (281st): $25,000
Erik Castro (311th): $105,000

Not exactly scientific, but you can bet DeShields will be getting north of $2m, Foltynewicz around $1.5m, and Kvasnicka about $1m.

And if I can add one more thing about this JaCoby Jones situation. If we assume the rumors are true that the Astros offered him in the neighborhood of $1.5 million, that puts him at a mid-1st round signing bonus in the 19th Round. So...what's the problem? Boras?