Today is the Deadline, But Astros Already Good

August 16, 2010 at midnight eastern is the last chance to sign amateur players drafted in June out of the high schools and colleges around the country for immediate delivery. The big news is as always with the Scott Boras clients who never sign early, but hold out till the last possible moment and in some historic cases pass on a chance to start their professional careers.

Boras again has the top pick in Bryce Harper from Las Vegas. Harper is a precocious 17 year old who accelerated his high school years to get to junior college early so he could be drafted this year. The Washington Nationals made him the first pick. That is as far as things have gone so far. As much an any ballplayer can be projected a "can't miss" Harper is that. His offensive skills are prodigious. He is far more mature than his age. And playing major league baseball has been his single goal for years.

He may have to wait. The Nationals want to sign him, but don't necessarily want to pay the rate Boras is asking for since nothing is baseball is guaranteed--except the money paid out. Harper has all the tools, but until he gains professional experience no one can be sure. After all as good as he is he has not been facing professional pitchers let alone major league hurlers. The cat and mouse game between Boras and the Nat's will continue today.

As for the Astros no problems. They had two first round picks plus a sandwich pitch between the first and second rounds and all three were inked early. In fact, only one player drafted higher than #9 Delino Deshields, Jr. was signed heading into the first day. That was #4 pick, Christian Colon by Kansas City.

The club does have some high choices outside the first round still not signed and perhaps some or all won't be. But the team had a solid if not spectacular draft in 2010 to go with what they came up with in 2009 as the process the rebuild the entire Houston system continues.

Speaking of the minor leagues you can cross New Orleans off the list of possible homes for the Astros AAA team in 2010 after the expected defection of Round Rock to the Nolan Ryan led Texas Rangers. The Zephyrs have re-upped with the Marlins. That leaves the most likely new Astros AAA homes in Oklahoma City where the Rangers will depart and which hosted the Astros in the early days of the franchise or perhaps Nashville which also has a working agreement expiration after this season.

Oklahoma City makes the most sense due to proximity, but business decisions will enter. What sort of the farm system and team the Astros can provide the city is also not an insignificant factor. Astro farm club cities have had it rough the last five years. That has to change not only to show there are solid prospects being developed, but to help the minor league clubs attract customers.