A quick update on the Orioles draft situation

Here are a couple things we've heard about the Orioles chances to sign more of their draft picks over the last 24 hours. The deadline to sign picks is midnight on Monday and it appears that negotiations with O's top pick Dylan Bundy are likely to go into tomorrow and perhaps down to those final hours. Orioles officials remain confident a deal with Bundy will get done. They reportedly spoke to his advisers yesterday. Sources say talks between Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan and second-round pick Jason Esposito the Vanderbilt third baseman and sixth-round pick, high school third baseman Nicky Delmonico could escalate today as the club pushes to get one or both signed, possibly as soon as later today. As I wrote earlier, Esposito's signing bonus could fall somewhere between the $625,000 the 63rd player selected got and the $750,000 the 65th player received. Esposito was the 64th overall selection. If the Orioles did not sign him, they would get a compensation pick that would be the fifth pick in round two next year, which actually could be higher than the 64th pick then. Delmonico is said to be seeking a bonus that could top $2 million. One source felt the Orioles would need him to come down on that to get a deal down. By the way, I have also heard the O's would keep Delmonico at third base, or possibly first, if he signs and they don't have plans to use him as a catcher. It appears the Orioles are continuing to negotiate with a fourth player also that they hope to sign, possibly another pitcher, in addition to Bundy, Delmonico and Esposito and that deal could get done at some point today. If the Orioles sign all four, that would likely wrap up their signings this year and they would finish with 22 signed draft picks from the 2011 class. Jordan arrived in Baltimore in the last day or two to work the next few days out of the Warehouse.