Giants notes: Posey signs right before deadline

John Shea - San Francisco Chronicle (SFGate)

Buster Posey is a Giant. At least he figures to be soon.

The negotiations for the fifth overall pick in the draft concluded, and Posey is getting a $6.2 million deal, a telling statement that the Giants consider him a virtual can't-miss prospect - at that price, he better be.

It's a straight signing bonus, according to Baseball America, not a major-league contract like the Orioles gave early in the day to pitcher Brian Matusz, the fourth overall pick. A major-league contract would have limited the number of option years in which the Giants could keep Posey.

Bengie Molina's contract runs through the 2009 season, and general manager Brian Sabean strongly hinted on June 5, the day Posey was drafted, that the Florida State catcher could be Molina's successor.

By comparison, the fifth player selected in last year's draft also was a catcher, Matt Wieters, who received a $6 million bonus from the Orioles. Like Posey, Wieters settled on the Aug. 15 deadline day, 9 minutes before the final buzzer. A year later, he's tearing up the Eastern League, hitting .362 with nine homers and 43 RBIs at Double-A Bowie, and ready to burst into the majors this year or next.

Now it's Posey's turn to take the fast track.

At Florida State, Posey batted .463 with 26 homers, 93 RBIs and a .566 on-base percentage and led the nation in six offensive categories. He threw out 41 percent of runners trying to steal.

Posey won the Golden Spikes Award, which goes annually to the top amateur. Other Giants to win the award were Tim Lincecum in 2006 and Will Clark in 1985. In the Tallahassee regional, he was 9-for-19 with five homers and 13 RBIs.

Because of Wieters, $6 million was the starting point in the Posey negotiations. Tim Beckham, a high school shortstop selected first overall by Tampa Bay, received a $6.15 million signing bonus.

The Giants signed 27 of their first 31 draft picks.

Briefly: Aaron Rowand said he felt much improved over Thursday, when he exited in the second inning with a nerve irritation. Still, Bochy insisted on a day's rest. Rowand vowed to play tonight. ... Elsewhere in this state, teenager Madison Bumgarner struck out 12 batters in six innings in Class A Augusta's 7-0 win over Lexington. Bumgarner is 13-3 with a 1.52 ERA.