2011 MLB Draft Signing Deadline: Looking at the Status of the Top 10 Picks

August 15th is the last day that teams can sign their picks from the 2011 MLB Draft. Many of these deals, especially with first rounders, go right down to the wire.

If a team does not sign their draft pick by midnight, they will receive a compensation pick in the 2012 draft. They also lose their rights to that player.

This information about the players is updated as a 1 PM on deadline day.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Gerrit Cole

Gerrit Cole, the star right-handed pitcher out of UCLA was selected with the first pick of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pirates GM Neil Huntington has said that he believes that negotiation with Cole will go right up until the deadline. The Pirates should be able to sign him and he will fit well in their organization behind Jameson Taillon.

Seattle Mariners: Danny Hultzen

As with many other first round picks, the Seattle Mariners are expected to not be able to sign Danny Hultzen until the last few minutes before the deadline.

The Mariners have a number of talented young pitchers in the minors and Hultzen would further add to that list. Michael Phillips of The Richmond Times said that it is likely that Hultzen signs and will not return to UVA for his senior year.

Photo Credit: Seattle Times

Arizona Diamondbacks: Trevor Bauer

Trevor Bauer was the second top 10 pick from the 2011 MLB Draft to sign with the team that drafted him. He has already begun pitching in the minors.

Bauer has already made four starts, three at High-A and one and Double-A, in the minors. He has a 1.93 ERA and a 16.1 K/9 rate in 14 innings.

Photo Credit: UCLA

Baltimore Orioles: Dylan Bundy

One of the reasons that the Baltimore Orioles negotiations with Dylan Bundy have dragged out until the last day is because Bundy is expected to get a signing bonus that is near the record for a high school pitcher.

Bundy's brother, Bobby Bundy, is already a member of the Orioles organization so that is also motivation for Dylan to sign with the team.

Photo Credit: Max Preps

Kansas City Royals: Bubba Starling

Whether or not Bubba Starling signs with the Kansas City Royals will come down to if he wants to play football or if he thinks his future is in baseball. He will have to decide between playing quarterback at Nebraska or playing in the Royals organization.

These negotiations should go down to the deadline and if Starling does not sign, expect to see him throwing touchdown passes next year.

Photo Credit: USA Baseball

Washington Nationals: Anthony Rendon

Anthony Rendon is represented by Scott Boras, but don't expect that to stop the Washington Nationals from being able to sign him. The Nationals have opened up their checkbooks for Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg each of the past two years and expect them to do the same for Rendon.

Rendon could end up being the steal of the draft and it looks like he will sign with the Nationals. Washington expected him to go first in the draft and was shocked when he fell to them.

Photo Credit: Houston Chronicle

Arizona Diamonbacks: Archie Bradley

The Arizona Diamondbacks have already signed one of the pitchers that they drafted in the first round this year. Signing Archie Bradley as well would lead to a great future for the Diamondbacks.

It appears that like with many other top picks, the Diamondbacks' negotiations with Bradley will go right down until the midnight deadline.

Photo Credit: Perfect Game USA

Cleveland Indians: Francisco Lindor

The Cleveland Indians have said that their negotiations with Francisco Lindor have been going well, but the high school standout has not signed yet. The Indians expect Lindor to sign, but think that it will go right down to the deadline.

If Lindor does not sign with the Indians, he will play baseball at Florida State next season.

Photo Credit: Perfect Game USA

Chicago Cubs: Javier Baez

The Chicago Cubs are going to go down to the wire in their pursuit to sign Javier Baez. All indications seem to point to the fact that the Cubs will be able to sign Baez before the deadline.

Both sides have been working towards a deal in the past few days and Baez has dropped a hint that it will likely occur.

Photo Credit: Perfect Game USA

San Diego Padres: Cory Spangenberg

The San Diego Padres were the first team in the top 10 to sign their first round draft pick. Cory Spangenberg signed with the Padres just a few days after being drafted.

Spangenberg has spent time between both Short-Season A ball and Single-A. He has played 52 games this year and has hit .284 with two home runs and 16 stolen bases.

Photo Credit: Times-Tribune