2021 Draft Discussion

[WrongVerb]

Never too early to talk about the draft next year.

Reds should select around the middle of the round. They also have a competitive balance pick at the end of the first round. In addition, Bauer and Castellanos are likely to receive qualifying offers, and depending on what they do, the Reds could end up with two more picks at the end on the first round.

As for players to watch, Kumer Rocker is the top of this class. The rest will be muddled, because of limited summer ball this year, and we don't know, because of covid, what colleges and high schools are going to do in the spring.

[RedTeamGo!]

Castellanos is not a free agent. He’s on 4 year contract with this offseason have a player option to opt out.

[podgejeff_]

I know people don't like drafting HS pitchers in the first round, but late middle of the first round is where you'd probably snag those HS pitchers with top 7 pick talent who drop because they're high school pitchers...

Just saying.

[WrongVerb]

Castellanos is not a free agent. He’s on 4 year contract with this offseason have a player option to opt out.

Yes. That's what I meant. Sorry if it was a bit confusing.

[JaxRed]

I know people don't like drafting HS pitchers in the first round, but late middle of the first round is where you'd probably snag those HS pitchers with top 7 pick talent who drop because they're high school pitchers...

Just saying.

I'm hoping the Reds stick with the new regime's philosophy in the early rounds. College arms and high impact hitters (predominately HS). I have no problem with HS hurlers after a few rounds.

[Kc61]

Good prospects who are high level athletes.

[Ron Madden]

トレント・ローズクランズ
@ctrent
#Reds will pick No. 17 in next year’s draft

The Athletic MLB
@TheAthleticMLB
BREAKING – The MLB draft order is officially set. The Pirates will have the No. 1 overall pick.
https://theathletic.com/2133648/?source=twitterhq

[Ron Madden]

The only team without a first-round pick is the Astros, who lost their top two selections in both 2020 and 2021 as a punishment for sign stealing. They would have selected 15th overall if they hadn't been penalized.

Because each team's highest choice is exempt from forfeiture as free-agent compensation, the only way the first-round order below could change would be if a club exceeds the luxury-tax threshold ($208 million) by more than $40 million. In that case, its selection would drop 10 spots. This happened to the Red Sox in 2019, when their top choice slid from No. 33 overall in the first round to No. 43 overall in the second round.

Here's the order for the 2021 Draft:

1) Pirates (19-41)
2) Rangers (22-38)
3) Tigers (23-35)
4) Red Sox (24-36)
5) Orioles (25-35)
6) D-backs (25-35)
7) Royals (26-34)
8) Rockies (26-34)
9) Angels (26-34)
10) Mets (26-34)
11) Nats (26-34)
12) Mariners (27-33)
13) Phillies (28-32)
14) Giants (29-31)
15) Brewers (29-31)
16) Marlins (31-29)
17) Reds (31-29)
18) Cardinals (30-28)
19) Blue Jays (32-28)
20) Yankees (33-27)
21) Cubs (34-26)
22) White Sox (35-25)
23) Indians (35-25)
24) Braves (35-25)
25) A's (36-24)
26) Twins (36-24)
27) Padres (37-23)
28) Rays (40-20)
29) Dodgers (43-17)

https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-mlb-draft-order-set

[podgejeff_]

Previous big names taken at #17:
Tim Anderson 2013
C.J. Cron 2011
A.J. Pollock 2009
Cole Hamels 2002
Brad Lidge 1998
Roy Halladay 1995
Jeromy Burnitz 1990
Cal Eldred 1989
Charles Nagy 1988
Brian McRae 1985
Dennis Rasmussen 1980
Gary Matthews 1968

Including former or current Reds:
Brandon "Sticky" Finnegan 2014
Nick Esasky 1978
Scott Scudder 1986

Some really big names on that big list. I'd be just fine with a Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, A.J. Pollock or Gary Matthews.

[Gallen5862]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

2021 Competitive Balance Draft Pick Order

Major League Baseball has determined the orders of Competitive Balance Rounds A and B for the 2021 amateur draft, Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com reports. Comp Round A takes place after the first round of the draft, while Comp Round B goes down at the conclusion of the second round. The selections are comprised of picks awarded to teams that are considered in the bottom 10 in terms of winning percentage, market size and/or revenue.

Here’s the 2021 order as of now:

Round A

30) Marlins
31) Tigers
32) Brewers
33) Rays
34) Reds
35) Twins

Round B

65) Pirates
66) Orioles
67) Royals
68) Diamondbacks
69) Rockies
70) Indians
71) Cardinals
72) Padres

[Gallen5862]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

2021 Competitive Balance Draft Pick Order

Major League Baseball has determined the orders of Competitive Balance Rounds A and B for the 2021 amateur draft, Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com reports. Comp Round A takes place after the first round of the draft, while Comp Round B goes down at the conclusion of the second round. The selections are comprised of picks awarded to teams that are considered in the bottom 10 in terms of winning percentage, market size and/or revenue.

Here’s the 2021 order as of now:

Round A

30) Marlins
31) Tigers
32) Brewers
33) Rays
34) Reds
35) Twins

Round B

65) Pirates
66) Orioles
67) Royals
68) Diamondbacks
69) Rockies
70) Indians
71) Cardinals
72) Padres

[Bourgeois Zee]

Reds could have three picks in the top 36 picks, no matter how they finish this season. (Assuming Bauer signs a LTC somewhere else.)

[camisadelgolf]

I kind of like the Reds' position. Except for Barnhart, Farmer, Gray, Miley, and Lorenzen, everyone on the roster is controllable for the next three seasons. Obviously Gray would be a big loss, but it seems like the Reds have finally understood the importance of team control. 2024 though ... wow. That's looking like a rough year.

[WrongVerb]

MLB Pipeline released their top 100 draft prospects for 2021

The Reds select #17 in the first round. The 17th ranked player on this list is:

Richard
Fitts
RHP, Auburn

AGE
20
BATS
R
DOB
12/17/1999
THROWS
R
HT
6' 3"
WT
200
TWITTER
TheFitts43

Scouting Grades/Report (20-80 grading scale)

Fastball
60
Slider
55
Changeup
55
Control
50
Control
50

Video scouting report »

Fitts was a key reliever for Auburn as a freshman in 2019, throwing six shutout innings to beat Georgia Tech in the NCAA Regionals, winning the clincher against North Carolina in the Super Regionals and pitching well in two College World Series appearances. He remained in the bullpen during the shortened 2020 season but raised his profile significantly as a starter during summer play and fall practice. He could follow Casey Mize (No. 1 overall, 2018) and Tanner Burns (supplemental first round, 2020) as recent Tigers aces who became early Draft picks.

After operating with a low-90s sinker as a reliever, Fitts began employing a four-seam fastball as a starter. He showed the ability to sit at 93-95 mph for several innings and reach 97 with quality vertical life on his heater. He has two promising secondary pitches, with his upper-80s changeup with some splitter action currently a more reliable option than his improving slider, which arrives in the mid-80s with tilt when it's on.

Fitts' stuff has gotten better as he has grown into his 6-foot-3 frame, which is strong enough for him to handle a starter's workload. His arm action and delivery are sound, and he throws strikes with his entire arsenal. Adding to the package is his competitiveness, which draws as much praise as his stuff.

[RED VAN HOT]

With missing time in 2020 and likely in 2021 as well, this year's draft will be a severe test of analytics. In MLB Pipeline's top 100, the fair value drops to a conservative 45 at number 75. The task of projecting development, already difficult, will be even harder this year. I expect a very college heavy draft.