Signing Deadline Approaching For Stephen Strasburg And 12 Other First Round Selections

The signing deadline for all 2009 MLB draftees is approaching, it is at 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday. There are still thirteen first round picks left unsigned, and those players will negotiate with their respective clubs down to the wire to try to work out a deal. All is not lost if they can't come to an agreement, the team will receive a compensation pick for the 2010 Draft. Still, it is preferable to sign the player now. Here's the list of unsigned players:

• Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
• Dustin Ackley, Mariners
• Donovan Tate, Padres
• Zack Wheeler, Giants
• Jacob Turner, Tigers
• Tyler Matzek, Rockies
• Aaron Crow, Royals
• Grant Green, A's
• Matt Purke, Rangers
• Alex White, Indians
• Shelby Miller, Cardinals
• Kyle Gibson, Twins
• Levon Washington, Rays

MLB.com''s Jonathan Mayo writes that the top 3 picks are all represented by Scott Boras and all should be tough signs. Stephen Strasburg will get the most attention because he can make an immediate impact in the Nats rotation. Jona Heyman writes that team president Stan Kasten acknowledged that there is a real chance that they don't sign Strasburg even though they've offered him more than $12 million. Strasburg's camp thinks he is worth more than $50 million.

According to Mayo:

Three other high school arms -- No. 6 Zack Wheeler (Giants), No. 11 Tyler Matzek (Rockies) and No. 14 Matt Purke (Rangers) -- all seem to be in the same boat. All three players and their teams appear to have substantial gaps to overcome by the deadline to get deals done.

College players Aaron Crow, Grant Green, and Alex White seem more likely to sign. The same goes for Shelby Miller, who has the same agent as Purke but Cardinals GM John Mozeliak still feels the club will sign him for perhaps around $3.25 million. This according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

The Twins still have a $1.2 million gap between their $1.3 million offer and Kyle Gibson's $2.5 million request according to Jesse of Twinkie Town. Mayo writes that Tigers right-hander Jacob Turner is a Boras client and should be hard to sign but the Tigers have been down this road before when they agreed to sign pitcher Rick Porcello.

According to Marc Lancaster of the Rays Report the Rays don't expect to sign either of their first two picks, LeVon Washington and Kenny Diekroeger.