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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2007 Baseball Draft Preview

Due to the Angels signing various free agents over the offseason, Thursday's MLB Amateur DRAFT sees the Angels sitting on the sidelines for a big part of the event.

L.A. of Anaheim's first Pick in the draft is #58 - near the end of the Post-1st Round Supplemental Round. Then we do not pick again until #118 - near the end of the 3rd round. After that it is smooth sailing, with picks #148 (4th round) and #178 (5th round) and so on down the line...

This is not necessarily the worst position to be in, as we avoid the big, big bonus signings and can devote a larger sum of money to be meted out to the picks we most strongly want.

The Angels will most likely pursue the best player available as measured by traditional scouting methods regardless of how close he may or may not be to the majors. While the club's minor league system could use some power pitching, good outfield bats are the likeliest standout at the tail of the supplemental round.

Here are five players that might become the Angels First pick of the 2007 draft based on the team's needs, the organizations preferences and tendencies as well the likelihood that these players will not be picked in the First round or the early part of the supplemental round.

Kentrail Davis, OF - (Scott Boras is his advisor)

Kyle Russel, OF (a Longhorn with a reputation of being streaky)

Kellen Kulbacki, OF

Sean Doolittle, LHP, did a lot at Virgina

Garret Nash, SS  (Listed 3rd at that link)

After that, it is anyone's guess, although you can be sure that Angels scouting director Eddie Bane has the goods on many, many possible picks.

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Comments

I'll be happy when Eddie Bane
signs an HK equivalent in the 10th round and an Adenhart clone in the 14th. Eddie don't need no 1st round pick.
I agree
The Angels should be willing to spend some money on guys with "signability" issues.  Hopefully a first-round talent will slip to the Angels at #58 because of signability and Arte will give the go-ahead to pay the guy over-slot money.
Signability
Yes, often when teams have a shortage of early picks, they just let a Boras client fall to them and blow their draft money that way.

I think we would all agree that Angels $$$ is better spent on taking a chance on some young dude than wasting it on the likes of Shea.

Ill take "Cool Back" I
Best shot
Is to see which highly touted player slips because of bonus demands and/or college commitment, and sign him to first round money.  I'm taping this so I'll have to avoid all baseball related internet this afternoon to keep the excitement.

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