MLB Draft: The Latest Pirates Draft Rumblings

5:12 p.m. – War Room Buzz: Here are the Pirates final four considerations

1. Tony Sanchez, Catcher, Boston College (Expected to be the teams Selection)

2. Zach Wheeler, Pitcher, East Paulding HS

3. Aaron Crow, Pitcher, Fort Worth

4. Grant Green, SS, USC.

From a pure value standpoint ( no consideration for financial demands) Crow is the best value followed by Zach Wheeler, Grant Green and then Tony Sanchez.

5:00 p.m. – TIOPS baseball Insider John Perrotto tells me he’s hearing an agreement has been made with Sanchez but no confirmation to this point from team officials.

4:02 p.m. – Pirates will pass on Aaron Crow according to industry sources. Sanchez will likely be the pick and could be signed very soon. Draft Insider Keith Law reports a predraft deal is done. Sanchez is viewed as a reach at #4.

Huntington met with Sanchez last week and Sanchez indicated he would sign for under slot value which is believed to be $2.5 million.

Sanchez, 21, hit 14 home runs – 51 RBI’s in 58 games for Boston College this season. Sanchez is rated as the 27th best prospect by Baseball America.

Sanchez is #29 on Keith Laws big board.

3:21 p.m. – Pittsburgh executives have raved about the potential of high school pitchers Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley HS and Shelby Miller RHP, Brownwood HS. Neither player is in the mix for Pittsburgh because of the price tag.

Some local reports have linked Bobby Borchering, 1B/3B, Bishop Verot HS to Pittsburgh but he is also not in the mix at #4.

2:15 p.m. – Less than four hours until the MLB Draft begins and the Pirates are still on fence regarding what direction they will go.

There is a growing sense in talking to sources close to the team that the organization is moving away from pitcher Aaron Crow because of signability concerns. Crow is seeking atleast $4.5 million and a major league contract.

Slot value for the 4th selection is believed to be $2.5 million.

The Pirates will not take a player that they feel might not sign, which is why there has been a lot of back and forth when it comes to discussions centering around Aaron Crow.

I’m been told at this hour the Pirates have not ruled out Crow because they have him rated as the best value at #4. Despite the thought they may still go with Crow, it’s looking unlikely right now.

Crow did not sign with the Washington Nationals last season after being the Nationals first round pick. Crow opted to play in the Independent league. What the Pirates have to consider is that Crow doesn’t have much leverage. They have just under four hours to decide if they want to take the risk.

This late in the ball game it is rare for a team to be considering so many options. Including Crow the Pirates are considering 6 options.

A lot of buzz continues to center around Boston College catcher Tony Sanchez. Sanchez will sign for slot value and will sign soon which is intriguing for the Pirates. Overall though, Sanchez is a major reach at #4.

Two high school pitchers and one college pitcher are still in the mix; Zack Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS, Matt Hobgood, RHP, Norco HS, and Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt. Of the three Pittsburgh is expressing the most interest in Wheeler.

A darkhorse at #4 is USC SS Grant Green. Pittsburgh scouted Green heavily earlier in the season and coming into the season Green was regarded as a top 5 pick. A disappointing junior season has Green slipping a bit..

College Pitchers Alex White and Kyle Gibson are no longer on the Pirates radar.