News
Padres confident they'll ink top pick Tate
Second-, fourth-rounders also remain unsigned
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
08/16/09 11:37 AM ET
ST. LOUIS -- The Padres remain confident that they will get a deal done with their first-round pick, high school outfielder Donavan Tate, though it likely won't happen until sometime shortly before Monday's 9 p.m. PT deadline.The Padres have other business to attend to other than Tate, who was picked third overall out of Cartersville High in Georgia in June's First-Year Player Draft.
Also unsigned is another prep outfielder, Everett Williams, their second-round pick, who has committed to the University of Texas.
Another high school player, fourth-round pick, Keyvius Sampson, who pitched at a high school in Florida, remains unsigned. Sampson has committed to Florida State.
Tate left football practice at the University of North Carolina this week to think over his options moving forward.
There was an online report Saturday that indicated Tate might have agreed to a signing bonus of $6.5 million.
But San Diego general manager Kevin Towers said, "it's not a done deal. Still working on it." Padres vice president of player development Grady Fuson said there's "nothing to report until Monday."
Tate's father, Lars, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution earlier this week that agent Scott Boras, who is advising Tate, was seeking a $6.5 million signing bonus after an initial demand of $10 million.
Fuson said earlier in the week that conversations with Tate and Sampson were "great."
"We've kind of said, worst-case scenario, maybe a Mike Cameron ... somebody that hits .240, .250, a lot of punchouts maybe, but big bombs and plays as good a defense as you get. Durable, athletic, steals a lot of bases," Fuson said in June of Tate.
"Best-case scenario, you got the whole ball of wax. You got an Andruw Jones or something in his best years."
Williams might be tougher to sign because he was perceived to be a first-round pick but slid into the second round.
The largest signing bonus the Padres have bestowed upon a draft pick came in 2004 when the team gave shortstop Matt Bush a $3.15 million bonus as the No. 1 overall pick in that draft.
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
