Padres shell out bucks for draft picks

[jacs]

By Tom Krasovic / UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

The Padres have guaranteed a franchise-record $6.9 million to draftees this year and are still negotiating with three players chosen among the top 10 rounds.

The total includes $1.4 million paid to 2006 selections Matt Latos and Jeremy McBryde, two pitchers signed in May. The Padres have signed their first-round selection, Nick Schmidt, and the seven players taken with compensation picks, including five chosen between the first and second rounds.

“It's nice to have these guys out there playing,” said General Manager Kevin Towers. “The quicker we get them out there playing, the quicker they will get to the big leagues.”

Scouting Director Bill “Chief” Gayton said “signing players has not been an issue the last three seasons. We have had extra picks, and we have money to sign all of our guys.”

Gayton, whose first draft for the Padres was in 2001, said the draft budget hadn't exceeded $5 million in any of his previous years on the job.

The club is still negotiating with its third-round pick, pitcher Thomas Toledo, who has an offer from the University of Florida; shortstop Christian Colon, who has an offer from Cal State Fullerton; and pitcher Wynn Pelzer, a reliever from the University of South Carolina who is the first Scott Boras-represented player drafted by the Padres since 2001.

Gayton said it was of “huge” help that the front office's maneuvering has netted 11 compensation picks the last three years. Towers said he expects the club to have extra picks in next June's draft as well.

SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Padres -- Padres shell out bucks for draft picks

[padrefanforever]

Our farm is getting national recognition for improvements already.......we might have as many as 4-5 prospects in the top 100 when the rankings come out

[HollywoodLeo]

It's nice to see the Padres finally doing what they really need to be doing to remain successful over the long haul