Drayer: Mariners expect to take more targeted approach to undrafted free agency

With deals all but wrapped up and awaiting signing after passed physicals, soon six new Mariners will be added to the organization. Starting Sunday at 6 a.m., we could see more as the undrafted free agent free for all begins.

Drayer: Mariners draft class a combo of quick impact and big upside

A refresher on the rules: A signing period for undrafted free agents begins Sunday with clubs allowed to sign as many players as they wish to signing bonuses of up to $20,000.

How does this stack up to years past? For reference, last year, all but 48 players drafted between rounds 6 and 10 received six-figure bonuses. Conversely, large numbers of college seniors received bonuses in the $1,000 to $5,000 range throughout the middle to late rounds, which is typical as they lack leverage when they are out of eligibility.

While some clubs like the Kansas City Royals and the Washington Nationals are choosing to be very aggressive in the free agency period as far as numbers will go, the Mariners will be more targeted in their approach, expecting to sign five to 10 players.

“We don’t think we are in a position where we need to sign dozens of after-the-draft free agents,” said general manager Jerry Dipoto on Danny and Gallant this week. “We would like to point it towards those that we think have real Major League potential and or start filling organizational needs.”

Those organizational needs should be much less than previous years with minor league contraction expected soon. There is always room for more talent, however.

“We feel like we will find the right guys,” said Dipoto. “There are a ton of kids out there that really want to play and we want to give them an opportunity.”

After 160 players were selected Wednesday and Thursday, 21 of ESPN MLB prospect insider Kiley McDaniel’s top 100 players (subscription requires) remain undrafted. The majority were high schoolers for whom college could be a more attractive option at this point, but there were a number of college players as well.

There is also the large group of non-top 100 players who likely would have been selected in rounds 6-10. College juniors in particular are in a tough spot. They can take the $20,000 now or return to college and come back to another short draft – 2021 can be cut to 20 rounds – and without leverage as seniors. Some of those players could see getting a head start as an advantage, with or without play this year.

Players can choose where they go and while some may be drawn to favorite teams or marquee names like the Yankees, opportunity and development should be high on the minds of many. It is here the Mariners should have an edge as they are now seen by many as one of the better developmental organizations.

“We are getting to a point where we are hearing from agents saying ‘we love what you have done with the pitching, we love what you are doing in the minor leagues, is there an opportunity for our player?'” said director of amateur scouting Scott Hunter.

“What you can offer a player is important. Some of the things that we have done with our lower end players especially in the pitching end of the market, guys like Sam Delaplane (2017, 23rd round) and Art Warren (2015, 23rd round) is really intriguing to kids who are in the market thinking about what organization they want to go to,” Hunter added. “That is something we are very proud of as an organization and (Mariners Director of Player Development) Andy McKay and his crew on that side have done an excellent job of where we are actually.”

In addition to the development the Mariners can offer minor leaguers from March through August, they can also tout a full offseason of programs which includes high performance camps, swing camps, arm maintenance and “Gas Camp” for the pitchers and “Game Calling U” for the catchers. These programs will be even more important with the time lost in the the coronavirus shutdown.

The Mariners have a recruiting package ready to go that includes PowerPoint presentations and videos. There are a number of former college coaches and recruiters in the organization that will be of help and players may be asked to assist as well. The most important relationship however will most likely be that of the scouts that have followed many of these players for years.

“I’m a big advocate of an area scout,” said Hunter. “I’ve told them just continue to build relationships and be more human than businessman sometimes. Kids are going to be upset they weren’t drafted, sit back let them process that an continue to be there if they have questions. If a kid doesn’t want to play that’s totally understandable if they want to go back to school but once the dust settles, it really comes down to that relationship.”

Tough and ultimately unfortunate decisions will need to be made by these players, but there is an opportunity for teams to acquire talent and that cannot be overlooked. With what they have done with the minor league system under Dipoto, the Mariners could prove to be an attractive destination for a number of undrafted free agents.

Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s Mariners insider Shannon Drayer on Twitter.

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