Signing Day: Padres Get Their Man (Updated 12:03am CDT)

Updated 12:03am CDT ESPN.com's Keith Law confirms it's a done deal.  Both sides agree to a bonus worth $6.25 million paid over five years.  Peter Gammons, in his blog today, said that Tate was among a few deals that were done several days ago but the announcements were held as to not impact other signings.

Updated 6:30pm CDT  Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Padres and their first overrall pick, Donovan Tate, are close to an agreement that could be work $6 million.  San Diego Union Tribune's Tom Krasovic hears that Tate is scheduled to take batting practice with the team tomorrow prior to their game against the Cubs.

Updated 3:40pm CDT  According to Keith Law of ESPN.com, the Padres have come to terms on a deal with Everett Williams for a reported $775 thousand.  Also, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Padres' number one pick, Donovan Tate, is in San Diego to take a physical but that does not mean a deal will get done.

1:30pm CDT We've been waiting all week for this news but, unfortunately, it wasn't the name that we expected to hear.

Andy Marks of the Ocala Star-Banner is reporting that the Padres have come to an agreement with their second round draft pick Keyvius Sampson.  Although the terms of the deal are not yet known, it's a step in the right direction.

What we're still waiting for is the announcement that the Padres completed a deal with first round picks Donovan Tate and Everett Williams.

Yesterday, it was reported by BurntOrangeBeat.com that Everett Williams had decided to sign with the San Diego Padres and the deal was reportedly worth $900,000.  Although that was reported over the weekend, it has not been confirmed by the Padres themselves.

While teams begin to sign their first round picks, the Padres have yet to announce or confirm that they have come to an agreement with Williams or their No. 1 overall pick Donovan Tate.

The question that you have to ask, if the Padres aren't able to sign both, is will this further that criticism the Padres have faced since they took Matt Bush as their overall No. 1 pick in the 2004 Amateur Draft? 

That was a pick that cost the Padres $3.5 million and gave them absolutely nothing but heartache and embarrassment.

The Padres need to get these two picks signed and delivered, especially to try to better their image which hasn't been good after Trevor Hoffman departed via free agency and Jake Peavy was traded to Chicago. 

The Padres need all the good publicity that they can get at this point.

On the flip side of the coin, if they can get both players signed, where to you start both players?  Do Tate and Williams both have the talent to start their careers with Single-A Lake Elsinore or do you start them in Low-A Fort Wayne?

There's still a few hours left until the deadline expires, but from everything that we're hearing and the way the Padres operate, I think they will get deals done for both Tate and Williams and announce them later tonight, possibly after the Padres game tonight against the Chicago Cubs.

Bottom line is, the Padres need to get these guys signed to save face.  If not, they're going to face a lot of scrutiny and that's not something that new owner, Jeff Moorad, needs to start off his tenure.

Additional news & notes: It was reported today, by several sources, that the Nationals are offering the No. 1 overall pick, former San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg, in the $15-17 million range with incentives that could easily be reached to put the deal over $20 million. 

Whether Strasburg signs or not is anyone's guess and will remain that way until 12 a.m. EDT.

I've brought this up before, but it is official, John Smoltz was released by the Boston Red Sox earlier today and he will be allowed to sign with whoever he wants once he clears release waivers.  

SI.com's Jon Heyman, via Twitter, mentions the Dodgers, Marlins and Cardinals are the three teams that will be ready to pursue him once he clears waivers.

The Padres put Heath Bell and Adrian Gonzalez through waivers this past Friday and it's likely that both were claimed but the teams that claimed them probably won't be publicly released.  Although Ben Maller of Fox Sports, via Twitter, has a report that the Cardinals could be one of the teams interested in Heath Bell. 

ESPN's Peter Gammons mentions the Angels still have interest in Bell.

The Texas Rangers are looking for catching help, especially with Jarod Saltalamacchia on the disabled list.  According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Rangers could have interest in Padres' catcher Henry Blanco, but I can't see the Padres parting with Blanco especially with Nick Hundley recently off the disabled list.  The Padres don't really have another viable catching option, so I can't see Blanco being dealt unless they get a top catching prospect back in return.