August 15th Draft Signing Deadline

As many prospect-watchers know, the deadline for the Red Sox and all other MLB teams to sign their 2008 draft picks is Friday, August 15, at 11:59 pm ET. With about a day and a half until the deadline, Boston has signed 24 of its 52 picks, including 12 of its first 14, leaving 28 unsigned players. The Sox have also signed two undrafted free agents. In recent years, the team has signed between 27 and 32 picks per year. Last year - the first year of the August 15 deadline - Boston signed 5 draftees at the August 15th deadline, with another purportedly "agreed" signing backing out at the deadine. If history rings true, look for about 4 to 6 more signings to be announced this weekend. Two draftees- fourth round pick Pete Hissey and fifth round pick Ryan Westmoreland (left) - have both reportedly already agreed to seven-figure bonuses, but the Red Sox are apparently waiting until the deadline to announce those signings at the advice of the Commissioner. Here is a list of Boston's remaining unsigned draftees, sorted by their likelihood of signing:

Expected to sign or already signed & waiting to announce

4(142) Peter Hissey (CF/18) (Unionville HS) (Virginia) (BA:136; PG:150)

5 (172) Ryan Westmoreland (CF/17) (Portsmouth HS) (Vanderbilt) (BA:113; PG:110)

27(832) Hunter Cervenka (LHP/18) (Sterling HS) (Texas)

50(1504) Kyle Stroup (RHP/18) (Grant Community HS) (Chipola JC)

Big-money picks - reportedly undecided but leaning towards no

20(622) Alex Meyer (RHP/18) (Kentucky) (Greensburg HS) (BA:25; PG:103)

24(742) Ricky Oropesa (1B/18) (Etiwanda HS) (Southern Cal) (BA:108; PG:165)

26(802) Navery Moore (RHP/17) (Battle Ground HS) (Vanderbilt)

Mid-range bonus possibilities - "Summer Follows"

34(1042) Zak Sinclair (RHP/17) (West Allegeheny) (North Carolina State)

35(1072) Carson Blair (SS/18) (Liberty Christian) (Tulane)

38(1162) John Hernandez (RHP/20) (Barry) (Jr.)

39(1192) Yan Gomes (C/20) (Tennessee/Barry) (So.)

Mid- to low- range bonus players - doubtful signs

25(772) Justin Parker (LHP/17) (Jesuit HS) (Loyola Marymount)

40(1222) Sam Stafford (LHP/17) (Collins HS) (Texas)

45(1369) Jonathan Griffin (1B/18) (Manatee JC) (J1)

48(1450) Kevin Hoef (3B/21) (Iowa) (Jr.)

Not expected to sign

15(472) John Lally (LHP/17) (Santa Margarita HS) (Loyola Marymount)

17(532) Jordan Cooper (RHP/18) (Shawnee Hts HS) (Wichita State) (BA:163)

18(562) Brian Flynn (LHP/17) (Owasso HS) (Wichita State)

19(592) Brian Humphries (CF/18) (Granite Hills HS) (Pepperdine) (BA:180; PG:204)

22(682) Anthony Desclafani (RHP/17) (Colts Neck HS) (Florida)

28(862) Matt Marquis (CF/18) (Immaculata HS) (Vanderbilt) (PG:225)

29(892) Jacob Rogers (3B/18) (Dunedin HS) (Central Florida)

32(982) Travis Shaw (3B/17) (Washington Sr HS) (Kent State)

33(1012) Brandon Miller (C/18) (Woodward Acad) (Georgia Tech) (BA:101)

42(1282) Caleb Brown (CF/18) (Central Kitsdap HS) (Washington)

43(1312) John Killen (LHP/17) (Blue Valley HS) (Arkansas-Ft Smith)

44(1341) Ben Whitmore (LHP/19) (Fresno CC) (J2) (Oregon)

46(1396) Jeremy Heatley (RHP/20) (North Lake JC) (J2) (Arkansas)

Legend

(Round/Pick) Name (Position/Age) (School) (College Commitment) (Rankings)

We'll keep you up-to-date as soon as more information trickles in over the next thirty-six hours. You can also find more detailed information on the Wiki Draft Summer Follows Page and in depth discussion in the Draft Deadline thread.

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