According to Jon Heyman from Sports Illustrated, the Mets have come to terms with first round pick SS Reese Havens on a $1.4 million dollar bonus.  Heyman adds that $1.4 million is roughly slot money for where Havens was taken, 22nd overall.   

Also, according to Heyman the Mets are close to signing 33rd overall pick Brad Holt.  They are also into negotiations with their fourth pick Javier Rodriguez, while they have not begun negotiations with Ike Davis.  Davis was their first pick in the draft, 18th pick overall.  Davis and Arizona State Sun Devils have been playing in the College World Series

For Fox Sports, Frank Piliere of Scouts.com conducted a draft mailbag, where he answers a number of questions about the recent MLB draft.  He was asked two questions about the Mets, the first one asking why the Mets avoided high end high school players in favor of college talent. 

Piliere responded:

I think the Mets did what they had to do, and that was get some guys that could immediately improve their system. Reese Havens and Ike Davis are really two of the best college bats out there and Mets’ fans should be thrilled by that haul. This wasn’t a year for the Mets to be risky and take a high school player who could blow up in their faces. They increase their odds that at least one of these two guys will make a big impact for them. You also have to consider when a team has two picks in the first round it is hard to just ignore the slotting rules. You’d find yourself spending an awful lot just in the first round.

Pilliere was also asked if the selection of Ike Davis means that the Mets are giving up on 1B Mike Carp, to which he replied that ideally the Mets move Davis to the OF and having a guy like Carp likely did not affect their decision making.

In a separate column for Scout.com, Piliere writes about the draft winners and gives them draft grades.  He gives the Mets a B, and notably talks about some of the Mets later round draft picks:

The Mets have to be thrilled that Josh Satin fell to them at the 194th overall pick, as he profiles as a big hitting middle infielder. It was quite a surprise to see him fall that far. Mitch Houck, the 524th overall pick, could surprise some Mets fans with his performance as the left-hander is the owner of a sharp cutter that could give hitters problems at any level.

Well, probably like most people I have never seen these guys play other than a few highlights I’ve caught online.  I’ve read good things about Davis and Havens, especially Havens.  If he could move to catcher like so many people have speculated that could be a nice steal. 

And I agree with Piliere that it would’ve been a mistake to shoot for the stars with high end high school talent, when we have a system that is so depleted like ours is you have to fill it with guys that are better now and have proven themselves more.

Plus, everybody talks about the top few picks and analyzes those so it’s nice to read about Satin and Houck.  This draft is so long, and who knows about these guys that could surprise you as stars from late round (see Mike Piazza: drafted in the 62nd round). 

The Mets select Reese Havens SS from the University of South Carolina.

Havens had a .359 average with South Carolina this year. The 6′1″, 195 lb shortstop could play catcher or shortstop as well.

Keith Law saw him play at the SEC tournament and said he ‘reads the ball well off the bat.’ and has ‘great instincts and feel for the game.’

MLB.com on Havens…

A legitimate prospect in high school, teams were scared off because of a strong commitment to South Carolina. He’s improved steadily in his three years there and has evolved into a good all-around hitter with outstanding plate discpline. He may need to move to third down the road because of his lack of range, but his smarts in the field may at least give him the opportunity to play his way off of short as a pro. At either spot, he’s sure to go off the board pretty quickly.

Jim Callis on a recent Baseball America chat regarding Havens…

There are a lot of Reese Havens arguments around, both in the BA offices and among teams. Basically, those who have seen him in the spring (area scouts, my BA brethren) have been less than impressed. Those who saw him make adjustments in the Cape last summer (mostly scouting directors and crosscheckers, whom I talked to while doing our Cape Top 30) are more impressed. The biggest thing working against him is that he can’t play shortstop at the next level. I see him going in the second or third round as a third baseman. Someone may try to make him a catcher.

From his University of South Carolina player profile…

Competed in 65 games with 65 starts at shortstop … Hit .274 (64-for-234) with 12 doubles, five HR and 43 RBI as well as one triple and 38 runs scored … Batted 2-for-3 with a run scored in 8-6 win over North Carolina at NCAA Super Regional (6/9) … Went 3-for-5 with a run and a RBI in 11-6 win over Charlotte (6/4) … 2-for-4 with three RBI in 9-1 win over Wofford in NCAA Regional (6/1) … 2-for-5 with three RBI in 13-7 win over Tennessee (5/13) … 4-for-5 performance with a double, home run and three RBI in 12-3 win over The Citadel (5/9) … 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, first multi-homer game of his career, in 11-9 win at Ole Miss (4/22) … 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored in 18-4 win over Auburn (4/15) … Career-high five hits including tying USC single-game school record with three doubles in 20-3 win over Mississippi State (3/23) … Four hits with a pair of RBI and one run scored in 13-5 win over Appalachian State (3/13) … Played in the summer and earned All-Star honors for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League