A new board means a new mock draft and here we are.
This mock comes with some intel. It's about that time of year...
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following rankings and evaluations by FSS PLUS are based on subjective analysis and industry sources, and do not influence, are not influenced by, or are affiliated with the opinions and reports of Future Stars Series scouting and development staff.
1. Cleveland Guardians
Chase Burns, RHP -- Wake Forest
HOMETOWN: Gallatin, TN
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 215
BAT/THROW: R-R
It's haircut season, ladies and gentlemen. Deals are the narrative surrounding this pick and rumors floating around the industry seem to change on a weekly basis.
For much of the season Bazzana has been that guy. Two months ago it was Nick Kurtz on a deal. A month ago rumors of James Tibbs III on a massive under-slot was en vogue. Over the course of the last three or four weeks the overwhelming narrative inside the industry has been who will take the under-slot deal at one that satisfies the Guardians. At this stage, the two names shoved consistently to me in conversations have been Burns and West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt.
It's unlikely Burns falls past pick No. 5 and it's unlikely Wetherholt falls much further than that. If Burns has a suitor lined up in Colorado at pick No. 3 that may cap Cleveland's leverage at about $9.5 million woth the slot value for the top pick at $10,570,000. Wetherholt may be swayed with a number under $9 million. The Ballengee Group advises Wetherholt while VaynerSports advises Burns.
Both agencies have worked under-slot deals near the top of drafts in the past, VaynerSports famously striking a deal with Houston for Carlos Correa to go No. 1 overall in 2012.
