Hey, what do you know, other things are happening in the Cubs’ world aside from the Carlos Zambrano stuff.
As expected, today the Chicago Cubs reportedly signed first round draft pick, high school shortstop Javier Baez. Terms have yet to be released, but he’ll probably get just a little over slot for the 9th overall pick. His signing has been expected for months now, so it’s not a surprise that the Cubs locked him up. The slugging shortstop was one of the top high school bats in the draft, and instantly becomes one of the top five prospects in the Cubs’ system.
A word of caution: Paul Sullivan says the Baez signing is not yet official. Still, no one believes it won’t get done.
In only slightly more surprising (as in, not all that surprising) and slightly less exciting (as in, still pretty exciting) draft news, the Cubs have reportedly also signed second round pick, high school first baseman Dan Vogelbach. The big kid was demanding first round money to sign, so it’s likely that he got it.
From the first and second round to the 41st round – the Cubs also signed juco pitcher Austin Urban, presumably to a healthily overslot bonus. Urban was slated to transfer to college in the Fall.