2024 Draft Signings Thread

[Spencer Michaelis]

Now that the Pipeline podcast has talked about it and it's out there more, I feel comfortable saying that I was told Levonas was unlikely to sign about a week ago. Sounds like the Brewers called him on draft night and asked if he would sign for *well* over-slot and he said no. They decided to pick him anyway. My guess is that they liked him so much, they figured that if they can convince him, that would be great. If not, they would get an extra pick in 2025, in what is expected to be a better class. (In this scenario, the Brewers could end up with #68, their Comp Balance A pick, and a pick for Willy Adames signing elsewhere in next years draft)

Not sure I fully agree with that strategy, but I would get the thought process. Levonas would've been my favorite pick in the draft, so I definitely see the appeal in hoping they could change his mind (and they still have time, you never know).

Nunnallee was likely picked as insurance for Levonas once they realized just how difficult he could be to sign. 

FWIW, I've also heard Meccage is going to be around $1 million over-slot.

[CheeseheadInQC]

29 minutes ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

Now that the Pipeline podcast has talked about it and it's out there more, I feel comfortable saying that I was told Levonas was unlikely to sign about a week ago. Sounds like the Brewers called him on draft night and asked if he would sign for *well* over-slot and he said no. They decided to pick him anyway. My guess is that they liked him so much, they figured that if they can convince him, that would be great. If not, they would get an extra pick in 2025, in what is expected to be a better class. (In this scenario, the Brewers could end up with #68, their Comp Balance A pick, and a pick for Willy Adames signing elsewhere in next years draft)

Not sure I fully agree with that strategy, but I would get the thought process. Levonas would've been my favorite pick in the draft, so I definitely see the appeal in hoping they could change his mind (and they still have time, you never know).

Nunnallee was likely picked as insurance for Levonas once they realized just how difficult he could be to sign. 

FWIW, I've also heard Meccage is going to be around $1 million over-slot.

I was wondering if some team was going to draft an unsignable player to defer their pick. Didn’t think it would be Milwaukee. To do this you have to be confident the next draft will be better, be OK if the player calls your bluff and be reasonably certain you aren’t blocking a kid from a different offer he was going to accept, which could poison some relationships. At least it sounds like this probably met all those conditions.

[snoogans8056]

41 minutes ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

Now that the Pipeline podcast has talked about it and it's out there more, I feel comfortable saying that I was told Levonas was unlikely to sign about a week ago. Sounds like the Brewers called him on draft night and asked if he would sign for *well* over-slot and he said no. They decided to pick him anyway. My guess is that they liked him so much, they figured that if they can convince him, that would be great. If not, they would get an extra pick in 2025, in what is expected to be a better class. (In this scenario, the Brewers could end up with #68, their Comp Balance A pick, and a pick for Willy Adames signing elsewhere in next years draft)

Not sure I fully agree with that strategy, but I would get the thought process. Levonas would've been my favorite pick in the draft, so I definitely see the appeal in hoping they could change his mind (and they still have time, you never know).

Nunnallee was likely picked as insurance for Levonas once they realized just how difficult he could be to sign. 

FWIW, I've also heard Meccage is going to be around $1 million over-slot.

Well that settles that.

Get Meccage signed, and try for Nunnalee and Smith which should be tough signs at 14 and 15.

[shanedog19]

58 minutes ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

Now that the Pipeline podcast has talked about it and it's out there more, I feel comfortable saying that I was told Levonas was unlikely to sign about a week ago. Sounds like the Brewers called him on draft night and asked if he would sign for *well* over-slot and he said no. They decided to pick him anyway. My guess is that they liked him so much, they figured that if they can convince him, that would be great. If not, they would get an extra pick in 2025, in what is expected to be a better class. (In this scenario, the Brewers could end up with #68, their Comp Balance A pick, and a pick for Willy Adames signing elsewhere in next years draft)

Not sure I fully agree with that strategy, but I would get the thought process. Levonas would've been my favorite pick in the draft, so I definitely see the appeal in hoping they could change his mind (and they still have time, you never know).

Nunnallee was likely picked as insurance for Levonas once they realized just how difficult he could be to sign. 

FWIW, I've also heard Meccage is going to be around $1 million over-slot.

If they liked him so much why didn’t they take him at #17 then? 

[Spencer Michaelis]

5 minutes ago, shanedog19 said:

If they liked him so much why didn’t they take him at #17 then? 

I think there were sign-ability concerns for him anywhere. Seems to me (purely my own guess here) that the Brewers were hoping they could change his mind, while not risking missing out on some of their other favorites. 67 seemed like the best spot to get the best combo of not missing out on some of your top targets, while not losing the pick completely if he doesn't sign (since it still defers to next year) and still having the money to take a shot at him at that point.

[Joseph Zarr]

Two new UDFA's added to the Mix:

• Prince Fielder's son?!? My goodness, as if I needed another reminder I'm a year older since yesterday:

• RHP Miles Langhore, RHP out of Charlotte (you can find 2020 'X' video of Langhore when he had committed, at the time, to Vanderbilt)

Quote

Langhorne is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound righthander who has flashed solid stuff as a starter and reliever but has struggled with his control. He has walked more than 15% of batters in two years in his Charlotte career and showed more of that spotty control during a brief 2023 stint in the Cape Cod League with Chatham. Still he has a big frame with big stuff and could be an intriguing day three target because of that. Langhorne throws a mid-80s slider about half the time and backs the pitch up with a fastball that has averaged 93 and touches 96. He will occasionally mix in a low-80s curveball but is largely a two-pitch pitcher. He profiles as a power reliever but his long arm stroke and below-average control could limit him even in that role barring improvement.

(from 'Baseball America's' ongoing free Undrafted Free Agent Tracker Thread HERE)

[MilwaukeeBeers]

I get the MLB draft is extremely fickle but comparing last year to this one's haul... especially with how large of a bonus pool the Brewers had. MAN it is disappointing. 2023s outcomes had me really really excited for this drafr but without Levonas this class is off to a poor start. Nunnallee helps soften the blow hope they can at least ink him since Kiley was quite high on him. 

Also if he goes the college route I hope he doesn't have an arm injury or worse because that is the risk you run. Maybe well see him again in 2026. 

[Spencer Michaelis]

2 minutes ago, MilwaukeeBeers said:

I get the MLB draft is extremely fickle but comparing last year to this one's haul... especially with how large of a bonus pool the Brewers had. MAN it is disappointing. 2023s outcomes had me really really excited for this drafr but without Levonas this class is off to a poor start. Nunnallee helps soften the blow hope they can at least ink him since Kiley was quite high on him. 

Also if he goes the college route I hope he doesn't have an arm injury or worse because that is the risk you run. Maybe well see him again in 2026. 

I do think it's important to point out that the 2023 draft was abnormally loaded, due to the 5 round 2020 draft causing a lot of prep guys to go to school, and all becoming eligible at once in 2023. Along with a strong prep class to go with it. Worked out extremely well for the Brewers that year, but it was always gonna be tough to back up this year haha.

That said, it will definitely feel like a bit of a let down. Nunnallee would be a good consolation prize, and I do like a lot of the day 3 arms, hoping they bring Broughton in especially (I think they will).

[titletownking]

Next years draft is universally praised as a strong crop of talent and the Brewers will have a large amount of $, if Levonas can’t be signed, they pivot to the latter round selections and pocket the selection in a better draft. But all in all, fine with the class but not in love with it. 

[Jake McKibbin]

 

Jaron DeBerry confirmed sign, no contract value yet

[homer]

2 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Two new UDFA's added to the Mix:

• Prince Fielder's son?!? My goodness, as if I needed another reminder I'm a year older since yesterday:

• RHP Miles Langhore, RHP out of Charlotte (you can find 2020 'X' video of Langhore when he had committed, at the time, to Vanderbilt)

(from 'Baseball America's' ongoing free Undrafted Free Agent Tracker Thread HERE)

yikes. I started posting here the year Prince was drafted.

[balsamlaker]

Langhorne is an intriguing (likely bullpen ) arm.

[balsamlaker]

If Levonas does not sign, one could question why they didn't go Dasan Hill, but the sun will still come up tomorrow with plenty of money to use on the day three picks and a comp pick in '25.

[brewers888]

After the 23 draft the front office deserves the benefit of the doubt but this class looks extremely underwhelming especially with the outrageous first round reach. 

[sveumrules]

27 minutes ago, brewers888 said:

outrageous first round reach. 

Outrageous based on what? Pre-draft internet rankings?

I'll trust the Brewers scouting and player development staff over online experts.

[brewmann04]

It be curious to see what happens but if we get a few future starting pitching be good with it 

[jay87shot]

If Levonas doesn't sign this becomes a dreadful draft. 5 picks in the top 100 but only 3 top 100 prospects, no top 50 ranked players. Especially when the 2 1st round picks were money saving picks. Only 5 picks even ranked in the top 250. I get that our scouting team has been good finding gems but we are really missing out on top end talent without Levonas.

I liked day one, but then we didn't take any big swings on day 2 and if we lose Levonas, Nunnalee is a really poor fall back signing in my opinion.

Sorry to be so negative but it is really disappointing to reach on a guy in the 1st round in part to sign another better player later and then not sign that 2nd player.

[narwhalattack]

Given that it’s a pretty sizable chunk of draft capital on the line, I have to imagine the FO drafted Levonas fully expecting to sign him. If Levonas doesn’t sign, I think it’s more likely that he changed his mind AFTER he got drafted.

[wiguy94]

3 hours ago, narwhalattack said:

Given that it’s a pretty sizable chunk of draft capital on the line, I have to imagine the FO drafted Levonas fully expecting to sign him. If Levonas doesn’t sign, I think it’s more likely that he changed his mind AFTER he got drafted.

If Levonas didn't sign it would ultimately have a positive impact on the rest of the draft bonus pool. Levonas was going to get well over slot, so if he doesn't sign that would free up the allotted over slot money going to Levonas for players in round 11-20. A player not signing would only hurt the draft bonus pool if you were trying to sign the player for underslot.

[snoogans8056]

3 hours ago, jay87shot said:

If Levonas doesn't sign this becomes a dreadful draft. 5 picks in the top 100 but only 3 top 100 prospects, no top 50 ranked players. Especially when the 2 1st round picks were money saving picks. Only 5 picks even ranked in the top 250. I get that our scouting team has been good finding gems but we are really missing out on top end talent without Levonas.

I liked day one, but then we didn't take any big swings on day 2 and if we lose Levonas, Nunnalee is a really poor fall back signing in my opinion.

Sorry to be so negative but it is really disappointing to reach on a guy in the 1st round in part to sign another better player later and then not sign that 2nd player.

It should be stressed that it's not just Nunnalee that we'd be going after in the late rounds. Travis Smith is a highly regarded pitcher who has had Tommy John and heart surgery derail his college career. Was talked about as an early round prospect.

[JCREW]

21 minutes ago, snoogans8056 said:

It should be stressed that it's not just Nunnalee that we'd be going after in the late rounds. Travis Smith is a highly regarded pitcher who has had Tommy John and heart surgery derail his college career. Was talked about as an early round prospect.

This draft is a Tetris board waiting on three reds...

[CheeseheadInQC]

2 hours ago, narwhalattack said:

Given that it’s a pretty sizable chunk of draft capital on the line, I have to imagine the FO drafted Levonas fully expecting to sign him. If Levonas doesn’t sign, I think it’s more likely that he changed his mind AFTER he got drafted.

I'd agree if it weren't for the rule that they get the pick next year. That gives them an out where they can take a chance.

It does place more pressure on two things in this draft class:

1. Braylon Payne: Whereas before the pair of overslot pitchers could overshadow any early struggles, now with just one, he is going to be much more of the focus. And the fact that he was a surprise pick only adds to it. If he can become a line drive hitter, I'm fine with him never becoming a 30 home run guy. Benge, who most would have been satisfied with, is described as having a flat bat path, too. It's just making sure that the quality of the contact is there.

2. The Brewers' Quantity Approach to Pitching: Like last year, the Brewers drafted a lot of pitchers, and even without Levonas, they are likely to sign more high school pitchers than most teams sign high school players in general. Can they find as many quality mid-to-late round prospects this year as last? Unlikely. But finding a couple of promising ones is key to the quality of the draft class as a whole.

[Jenkins5]

7 hours ago, homer said:

yikes. I started posting here the year Prince was drafted.

Lol Same, I was like 14 looking for draft info & stumbled onto brewersfan & been here since!

[Matt]

Learned a while ago not to get upset or judge a draft when I don't feel like it went the way that it should have. People can have opinions one way or another but at the end of the day no one really knows dick. As much as most of us love the '23 draft, any one of those kids could flop hard. Or you could have something where David Fry is a nothing 7th rounder who signs for $10,000 and ends up an all-star. 

Who knows. 

[brewmann04]

Has Levonas told the brewers definitely he going to pass on the brewers