Tuesday, June 03, 1997
FSU's Drew could be bargain with second pick
The Associated Press
"Copyright © 1997 The Associated Press"
NEW YORK (AP) -- By all accounts, J.D. Drew is the most talented, most polished player available in Tuesday's major league draft.

He's regarded by many scouts as the best college outfielder ever. He's the only Division I player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season. And he's simply a wonderful person, says his Florida State coach.

All that, and still there's almost zero chance he'll be the No. 1 pick when the draft begins at 1 p.m. EDT.

Instead, the Detroit Tigers likely will make a pitcher named Anderson -- either Michigan high school star Ryan, considered a Randy Johnson clone, or Rice University ace Matt -- the top choice overall.

Why?

Because the Tigers do not want to pay the price, projected at perhaps $10 million or so, that it might cost to get Drew, represented by tough negotiator Scott Boras.

In fact, many teams are looking at the bottom line with as much interest as a prospect's statistics.

"We've never shied away from hard signs," Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Fred Claire said, "but we're taking a harder look than ever because signability is more of a factor than ever."

Especially when it means paying for a player who might not be in the majors for several years, if at all. While recent No. 1 picks like Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez and Chipper Jones all zoomed to stardom, there are plenty of stories about guys like Brien Taylor and Ryan Jaroncyk.

Taylor, the top pick of the 1991, got a $1.55 million signing bonus negotiated by Boras. But he injured his shoulder in a fight a few years ago is languishing in extended spring training for the New York Yankees.

Jaroncyk, a high school shortstop who was the 18th overall choice in 1995, recently retired at 20 because he was bored with baseball. The New York Mets gave him an $850,000 bonus.

Last year, the prices went up dramatically. High school pitcher Matt White was picked seventh by San Francisco, but not offered a contract within the required 15 days; Boras took advantage and wound up getting White a $10.2 million contract from the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Drew, a 21-year-old junior, also figures to command a steep price, which the Philadelphia Phillies seem willing to pay with the No. 2 pick.
"I've talked to several people, met with scouts and the Phillies," Drew said. "So we're going to see. It'll be a very interesting draft."

So will the period after the draft.

"Whoever we pick, it's going to be a lengthy process," Phillies director of scouting Mike Arbuckle said Monday. "This year will be the longest process for everybody, the longest baseball has ever seen."

The Tigers, who had the worst record in the AL, seem split between the two Andersons.

Ryan Anderson is the local favorite, residing about 20 minutes from Tiger Stadium. At 6-foot-10, the 17-year-old left-hander who wears No. 51 has been likened to a young Randy Johnson.

Matt Anderson, however, may be ready for the majors sooner. The 20-year-old junior holds the Rice record for wins and is being projected as a stopper, which the Tigers desperately need.

One thing is for sure -- the Tigers will not trade the No. 1 pick because, unlike the NBA, NFL and NHL, deals are not permitted in baseball. Some general managers, however, would like to change that rule.

"We should be able to trade picks," Tigers GM Randy Smith said. "It'd be more interesting for fans."

Whichever Anderson the Tigers take will affect what happens in the rest of the first round. If Detroit picks Ryan, the Anaheim Angels will probably pick Matt Anderson with the No. 3 choice; if the Tigers take Matt, the Angels will likely go with a college player.

San Francisco, Toronto, the Mets, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Minnesota and the Chicago Cubs fill out the rest of the first round. The expansion teams, Arizona and Tampa, get the last two choices.

Among the other highly regarded players are UCLA infielder Troy Glaus, Seton Hall pitcher Jason Grilli -- son of former major league pitcher Steve Grilli, and high school outfielders Darnell McDonald from Colorado and Tyrell Godwin from North Carolina.

Only the results of the opening round will be announced Tuesday; the remainder of the draft, which lasted 100 rounds last year, will be announced next week.

The No. 1 choice in last June's draft was Clemson pitcher Kris Benson, taken by Pittsburgh and paid a $2 million signing bonus by the Pirates.

As of last week, Benson was 5-2 with a 2.58 ERA for Class A Lynchburg. In fact, only two of last year's first-round picks -- Mark Kotsay of Florida and Seth Greisinger of Detroit -- had reached the Double-A level by the weekend.