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The Texas Rangers will hold a press conference around 12:30pm CT to announce that they have signed Jack Leiter (and will likely tell us the exact amount they paid him).
It's official. @jackleiter22 is ours. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/YeWxkyHB7Q
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 28, 2021
I was going to wait to write this post until after they announced it, but Jeff Passan is to baseball news as Woj is to the NBA, so I’mma go with it.
Jack Leiter, the No. 2 pick in the draft, is in agreement with the Texas Rangers on a deal that will pay him more than $7.9 million, sources tell ESPN. That’s the highest bonus for a pitcher since draft rules changed a decade ago and just shy of the $8M Gerrit Cole got in 2011.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 28, 2021
Congratulations, Leits Out, on having a frightening amount of money. And on getting to play a game for a living. Must be nice.
Notable Vanderbilt-centric unsigned players to keep an eye on until Sunday’s 5pm MLB signing deadline now include:
- Kumar Rocker (1st round, 10th overall, NY Mets—contract talks are reportedly “in limbo”)
- Jordan Lawlar (1st round, 6th overall, D-Bags—rumors are that the Bags have about $7 mil available and are willing to give it to Lawlar, but he’s still 50/50 w/r/t signing)
- Davis Diaz (12th round, D-Bags—could be a consolation prize late overslot signing for the Bags if they’re unable to get the deal done with Lawlar; so there’s a good possibility either Lawlar or Diaz will be in gangster pajamas, but probably not both)