Midnight tomorrow is the deadline for players drafted in the June, 2009 Major League Baseball first year player draft to sign a contract. It looks like several players may miss the deadline. Or will they?
>p>
In a last ditch effort to extract every last dollar from their drafting teams, some 14 first round players remain unsigned. Heading the list is Washington Nationals draft choice Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg and his agent Scott Boras have had some very serious conversations with Washington ownership and front office officials but a deal has not been signed. It has been leaked that Strasburg has been offered "somewhere between 14 and 16 million dollars." That sounds like about 15 million or in that neighborhood. That exceeds the money paid to any first round draft choice, including Mark Prior. If he remains unsigned after midnight tomorrow, Strasburg will have to enter the 2010 draft and he can not be drafted by the Washington Nationals, who likely will have the top pick once again. Team President Stan Kasten has indicated the team's willingness to have Strasburg be on the opening day roster and on the mound next season. So far, no deal.

Other first rounders are waiting patiently or impatiently for Strasburg. They will fall in line once the top choice has completed his deal.

The following other players remain unsigned as of this writing:

#2 outfielder Dustin Ackley- Mariners

#3 outfielder Donavan Tate- Padres

#6 right-handed pitcher Zack Wheeler-Giants

#9 right-handed pitcher Jacob Turner-Tigers

#11 left-handed pitcher Tyler Matzek-Rockies

#12 right-handed pitcher Aaron Crow-Royals (also held out last year with the Nationals and was drafted this year by Kansas City)

#13 shortstop Grant Green-Oakland < #14 left-handed pitcher Matt Purke- Rangers

#15 right-handed pitcher Alex White-Cleveland

#19 right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller- Cardinals

#22 right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson- Twins

#29 outfielder Slade Hathcott-Yankees

#30 outfielder LeVon Washington- Rays

It is more likely than not that the majority of the players listed above will make 11th hour deals-there is just too much at stake. Players have to re-enter the draft in 2010, lose a year of development and fall behind their ability to become arbitration eligible. It's a costly decision.

I'll have some comments about the draft "Under The Big Straw Hat" once we know the final results. I have some thoughts about the process and what might just be coming down the road. I welcome you to read that blog early next week. Until then, keep your eyes on the clock tomorrow. The baseball landscape should look a little different.