• Matt Purke did not sign with the Rangers and will attend TCU
• The Mariners have signed Dustin Ackley but terms have yet to be disclosed
• Alex White signs with the Cleveland Indians for $2.25 million
• Tyler Matzek signs with the Colorado Rockies for $3.9 million bonus
• Kyle Gibson signs with Twins for $1.8 million
• Grant Green and the Athletics came to an agreement
• LeVon Washington was one of only three first round picks not to sign
• Aaron Crow did not sign with Royals but has until May of 2010 since he has no college eligibility remaining.

It has been reported that the deal for Strasburg is for $15.67 million over four years.

“We have identified a need for athleticism, particularly in the outfield, when playing at PETCO Park,” said executive vice president/general manager Kevin Towers. “In signing Donavan Tate, we have acquired an excellent ballplayer and one of the premier athletes available in this year’s draft.”

The deadline for Major League teams to sign their 2009 draft picks has come and gone (12 Midnight) and Number One pick Stephen Strasburg has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Washington Nationals. He was not the only round one pick holding out as long as possible as the deadline approached. The Detroit Tigers signed Jacob Turner for a reported $5.5 million prior to the deadline. The Giants also flew right under the deadline by inking Zach Wheeler prior to midnight for $3.3 million. Other first rounders yet to sign include the following:

• Dustin Ackley (Mariners)
• Donavan Tate (Padres)
• Tyler Matzek (Rockies)
• *Aaron Crow (Royals)
• Grant Green (Athletics)
• Matt Purke (Rangers)
• Alex White (Indians)
• Kyle Gibson (Twins)
• LeVon Washington (Rays)

Supplemental First Rounders yet to sign with their teams are James Paxton (Blue Jays) and Tanner Scheppers (Rangers).

It was announced earlier on Monday that the Tampa Bay Rays do not expect to sign Washington and second rounder Kenny Diekroger. Many in baseball feel that is Strasburg does sign with the Nationals he will be in the Majors by September 1, when rosters expand to 40 players.

*Aaron Crow does not have to sign by the deadline because he does not have any college eligibility remaining.

The Colorado Rockies have chosen OF Tim Wheeler out of Sacramento State University with the 32^nd overall draft pick. Wheeler is a prototypical leadoff hitter besides his stature as he stands at 6-4 and weighs 205. He has great contact abilities to put the ball in play and get down the baseline. While he does not have a lot of power in his bat, he has great speed. He is a great fielder with his speed and range to get to balls, but has just an average arm from the outfield. His upside is not great, but he projects to be a great guy at the top of the lineup who can work at bats, get on base, steal bags, and score a lot of runs in the future for the Rockies organization in their minor league systems. The Colorado Rockies are currently 26-32 in the NL West, trailing the first place Los Angeles Dodgers by 13 games. In 2008, the Colorado Rockies selected LHP Christian Friedrich out of Eastern Kentucky University with the 25^th overall pick. In 2009 for the Modesto Nuts at Advanced A Ball, he has a 2.77 ERA in 2 starts. He has picked up 14 strikeouts in 13 innings.

[ad#baseball]

The Cubs are tied for second place in the National League Central with the Cardinals and the Reds, 2.5 games out of first behind the Brewers. Piniella’s team has struggled to start the 2009 season because of injuries and a struggling pitching staff. In 2008 the Cubs took Andrew Cashner with the 19th pick.

Cashner is a right handed pitcher out of Texas Christian University. He has a 1.75 ERA in eight starts with the Daytona Cubs of the Class A Advanced Florida State League. Cashner has struck out 22 hitters in just over 25 innings pitched. He has allowed only 21 hits and 10 walks.

[ad#baseball]

The Tampa Bay Rays have selected 2B LeVon Washington out of Buchholz High School in Florida with the 30^th overall draft choice. Washington already has a blemish on his health track record with a nagging shoulder injury that has already impacted his arm strength, plummeting his evaluation in that department to below average. With his dip in arm strength but still great range and speed to his name, the Rays may move him into a centerfielder’s role. Many accolades have been given to how he handles himself at the plate, sporting a great approach, solid bat speed, and a natural swing. Washington had originally committed to the University of Florida. Despite being behind B.J. Upton and a couple other talented centerfielders in the minors, Tampa could use Washington as a trading chip in years to come. The Tampa Bay Rays currently sit at a record of 29-31 in the AL East, as they trail the first place New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox by six games. In 2008, the Rays drafted SS Tim Beckham from Griffin High School in Georgia with the 1^st overall pick. In 2009 at Class A Ball with the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the South Atlantic League, Beckham is hitting .297 with 3 home runs and 31 RBIs.

[ad#baseball]

The Yankees are tied for first with the Red Sox in the American League East with identical 34-24 records in 2009. The two teams hold a 1.5 game lead on the second place Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees started off slow in 2009 but have come on of late with the return of  Alex Rodriguez.

The Yankees drafted Orange Lutheran High School right handed pitcher Gerrit Cole with the 28th pick in the 2008 draft. Cole did not sign with the Yankees so they received a compensation pick in the first round, which they used to draft Heathcott this year.

[ad#baseball]

The Boston Red Sox have drafted OF Reymond Fuentes out of Fernando Callejo out of Puerto Rico with the 28^th overall draft choice. Fuentes is a small thing standing at 6-0 and 160 pounds, but makes up for that with his speed. Fuentes, the nephew of New York Mets centerfielder Carlos Beltran, has great bat speed and quick wrists, which does give him some pop at the plate. His style at the plate has been compared to Alfonso Soriano as he is very much a free swinger but does cover most of the plate while in the batters box. He can cover a ton of ground in the outfield but his arm is extremely weak. He seems to be somewhat in the same mold as current Red Sox centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, as a player that can do a lot of the little things right. The Boston Red Sox currently sit tied for first place in the AL East with a 34-24 record along with the New York Yankees. In 2008, the Red Sox selected shortstop/pitcher Casey Kelly of Sarasota High School in Florida with the 30^th overall selection. So far in 2009 at Class A Ball with Greenville, is 6-1 with a 1.12 ERA in 9 starts and has only allowed 41 base runners in 48 1/3 innings.

[ad#baseball]

[ad#baseball]