The Orioles have not made anything official, but they are beginning to sign their 2012 draft picks.
Miami-area high school shortstop and third-round selection Adrian Marin has passed his physical and signed for $481,100, according to an industry source.
That figure is the exact amount slotted for the 99th pick overall by Major League Baseball.
This year, under the new collective bargaining agreement, the Orioles have $6,826,900 to spend on their top 10 picks without being penalized with a tax or eventual loss of future draft picks. They can allocate the dollars however they like throughout the Top 10.
So long as they don’t go over $100,000 each for any pick after No. 10, those signings will not count against the overall cap.
Scouting director Gary Rajsich said he felt the team selected its players at the right spots, so that there would not have to be much maneuvering in salaries among the Top 10.
Baseball America reported that the Orioles also signed their eighth-round pick, Michigan State third baseman Torsten Boss, for $139,500, which is also slot.
The Orioles have not announced any of their signings yet, waiting for physicals to be completed. Announcements are expected to come as early as Tuesday.
Marin, however, announced via Twitter that he has a locker and will begin practicing Tuesday in Sarasota. He will be part of the club’s Gulf Coast League team.
