Zach Lee still on the clock, but Dodgers do spend $600,000 to sign Joc Pederson

The Dodgers are getting all suspenseful with their potential signing of No.1 draft pick Zach Lee, but they have made one deadline deal.

They signed 11th-round pick Joc Pederson for $600,000 on Monday, easily the most they’ve spent on any current draft pick.

The deadline to sign Lee is tonight at 9 PDT.

Lee has been at Louisiana State's football camp for weeks, and the quarterback was there for the Tigers’ morning workout. Times Dodgers beat writer Dylan Hernandez, however, reported that Lee skipped the afternoon session to be with family and meet with Dodgers representatives.

Lee’s signing would be a major coup for the Dodgers, most teams backing off the right-hander because they were convinced he wanted to play quarterback at Louisiana State.

But teams also reportedly backed off Pederson because of his asking price and the Dodgers were able to land him on the last day.

The outfielder was committed to play baseball at USC and told Hernandez he was getting ready to drive from Palo Alto to the Trojans’ campus when the Dodgers came up with a late, attractive offer.

The $600,000 signing bonus was four times the slotted amount for selections after the fifth round.

Hernandez said Pederson is scheduled to report to the Dodgers’ training facility in Arizona on Wednesday. His father, Stu, briefly played for the Dodgers in 1980.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[Mike]

The McCourts not signing Lee would be a final dagger in the backs of Dodgers fan. It would show that they really have no commitment to the team now nor in the future. The Dodgers farm system is in shambles and signing Lee is a must.

[Rob]

Hope this is true! Steve Henson of Yahoo Sports says the Dodgers are on the brink of signing Zach Lee.
http://twitter.com/stevehenson333/status/21362083142

[Rob]

Baseball America is announcing on their Twitter feed that the Dodgers have signed Zach Lee!

https://twitter.com/BaseballAmerica

[Bill]

I know that money rules all in business. However, I am a fan of the GAME. Why is it I had to Google Joc Pederson to find out that he plays center field. I know that Lee is the standout performer. But I read through two or three articles and blogs before having to resort to looking up Stu's kid online. By the way, Joc's high school paper is quite professional looking.

[Bill]

From the Palo Alto High School Voice:
Pederson was an offensive force for the Vikings, batting .515 with eight home runs, nine doubles and six triples on the year, and helping them get to the CCS championship on May 29."He's out there hitting 500 balls a day during the summer," Paly Athletic Director and football coach Earl Hansen said. "He works, he earns it. It's not magic."Pederson won the Mercury News Prep Baseball Player of the Year award. In addition, he was named co-MVP in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division, and "Athlete of the Year" by The Viking.

Look out Matt, Stu's kid is on the way! (in four or five years)

[Steve Dilbeck]

Bill: Sorry for not including Pederson's position. He is an outfielder, who has played center and right.

[Bill]

Steve no problem... My rant was not intended to be directed towards you. It was more a general comment on the direction of professional sports. It seems that the talent of this fine athlete was being ignored in favor of the the amount of dollars the he will garner for signing on with the pros. I used to be in favor of a young star player in any sport going on to college first. The economics have changed and I doubt that anyone (that isn't already wealthy) would be hard pressed not to take the money. There have been many pro athletes who complete college on their own terms. Great blog Amigo!