Hours before the deadline to sign 2009 draft picks, the Phillies evidently have reached a deal with seventh-round pick Brody Colvin, a pitcher from Louisiana who was bought out of his college commitment to LSU for a reported $900,000. Colvin was on LSU's campus today for freshman orientation, but it was reported that negotiations would continue up to the 11:59pm deadline.
The team has not yet confirmed the signing, nor has Baseball America. UPDATE: Baseball America has confirmed the signing.
Considered a first- or second-round talent, Colvin fell as far as he did because the sense around Major League Baseball was that he would attend college. In a draft without a first-round pick for the Phils, he was perhaps their biggest "get," and many felt his signing would go a long way toward determining how successful this draft would be. Inking the high school star should restore some depth and upside to a farm system that lost a good bit of both with the July trade of a package led by pitcher Jason Knapp to the Indians for Cliff Lee.