Josh Fields Signs with the Seattle Mariners
Finally! I have no idea how the signing of picks works, so if anyone can please explain to me what transpired here I’ll be forever indebted. We certainly don’t have a lot of data to rummage through, but last year stats in the SEC, albeit a whopping 37 Innings were dominant. Let’s put it this way, take Balfour’s season in 08, throw in a couple more walks and strikeouts, and all of sudden you have the SEC pitcher of the year.
How does this signing effect the 2009 SOT Draft? I know one thing for sure, Evil Empire is kicking himself for giving up that 1st round pick. We all know the love affair EE has with closers. In the same breathe, it’s fair to say DMB has zero interest in Fields, as long as he’s a reliever. Who knows, does he go the Brett Cecil route, converts to a starter and becomes one of the top 20 pitching propsects in baseball? We all know how Seattle works, so i wouldn’ t be surprised if Fields is closing come July. God knows a closer like Fields may make Seattle a 65 win team in 2009.
Knowing Seattle they will probably make Morrow the closer and turn Fields into a starter.
I’m not sure he’s ever started before, and from the video I’ve seen, I think he really only throws two pitches. Granted, both are lights out, like 94-97 with a hammer. My guess is he goes pretty high, definitely top 2 rounds.
Top 2 rounds seems a bit high in my estimation. Does anyone else have the man-crush WTNY has on Fields? Though with a thin crop of minor leaguers he wont be too far off, I’ll say he goes between picks 19 and 30.
Yes, the Seattle Mariners, they seem to share my man-crush on Fields. I’m not exactly going out on a limb here, he was a first round pick.
What confuses you about this signing process? Fields was a senior so he had no real leverage in negotiations. He couldn’t go back to school like LaPorta. It was either take the offer or play in independent ball; which probably isn’t the best way to showcase yourself as a closer. Plus with the recent rule changes to the draft the M’s could have decided to not sign him and receive a compensation pick in the same spot in the 1st rd this year. This is the route taken by the Nats; they get the #10 picks for failure to sign 2008 first-rounder Aaron Crow.