MLB Draft Signing Deadline 2012: Best Deals Among 1st-Round Picks

We are approaching zero hour for the remaining unsigned players from the 2012 Major League Baseball draft to agree to contracts. Players who do not sign will be returning to school for another year—or three years, depending on their age. 

The new collective bargaining agreement has taken most of the drama out of the signing deadline, as most of the top players have already agreed to deals and are either currently playing or on the verge of playing in summer leagues. 

Here is a look at the teams who have made out like bandits with the signing deadline just hours away. 

Houston Astros Sign No. 1 Pick Carlos Correa 

The Astros made the best deal of the draft by signing No. 1 overall pick Carlos Correa to a below-slot contract. The thing that makes the contract look even better is the flexibility it gave them to get some other draftees who were thought to be difficult signs. 

Correa's bat has the potential to be special, as he already shows above-average power and a strong approach. He is probably going to end up at third base, as he will get too big for shortstop. 

When you factor in the addition of Lance McCullers and Rio Ruiz, the Astros could be looking like the biggest winners from this draft in a few years. 

San Diego Padres Sign No. 7 Pick Max Fried

Due to an injury to his Harvard-Westlake teammate Lucas Giolito, Fried wound up being the top high school pitcher available in this year's class. He is a projected left-handed starter with one of the best curveballs in the draft. 

The Padres were not only thrilled to see Fried waiting for them with the No. 7 pick, but they got him signed less than two weeks after the draft. The quick signing allowed them to get him out to short-season leagues this summer, where he is already playing in Arizona.

The upside Fried possesses, along with the quickness of the deal, make this one of the best moves of the first round. 

Boston Red Sox Sign No. 24 Pick Deven Marrero

There was a time when Marrero was thought to be a Top 10 pick in this draft. A plus-defensive shortstop who looked like he would be able to at least hit for average is an extremely valuable commodity. 

A poor season at the plate led to struggles in the field, and Marrero fell all the way to the Red Sox at No. 24. 

I have some concerns about Marrero's ability to hit in pro ball, but the potential is still there. If he just hits an empty .270-.280 in the big leagues and plays the plus defense he showed at Arizona State, he will be an All-Star.

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