Got Votto?
If you’re the Yankees, the answer is “nope.” Via the Toronto Sun -
[Joey] Votto was an oddity in the spring of his draft year of 2002. While every major-league team loved Adam Loewen (ranked fourth overall in North America) and Jeff Francis (ninth), only the Reds and the Yanks were on Votto. Cincy scout John Castlebury saw Votto at a Perfect Game Showcase at Tropicana Field, alongside Prince Fielder and Scott Kazmir, and didn’t stop watching.
Yankees scout Dick Groch, who signed Derek Jeter, was in Etobicoke, set to pounce, if the Yanks got Votto. But the Reds phoned Votto in drama class between the first and second rounds and he agreed to sign with them, for a $600,000 US bonus, if selected in the second round, 44th overall.
If the Yankees had not signed Rondell White or Steve Karsay, they would have been able to take Votto in the draft before the Reds nabbed him.
doh!
If the Yankees had not signed Rondell White or Steve Karsay, they would have been able to take Votto in the draft before the Reds nabbed him.
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As if that was ever the first consideration when George was in charge.
[...] Clash Over Stadium Financing Continues / The Robbie Cano option / Got Votto? [...]
I’m a little late on this one but I’m pretty sure that’s incorrect Steve. The picks lost for White and Karsay were supplemental picks according to BR which AFAIK means they were added into the draft because if those signings. So we didn’t lose the picks (we would have never had them); they were created to compensate the teams we signed Karsay and White from. The only pick we actually lost was the first rounder to Oakland for Giambi.
Good point.