It's becoming obvious that the Dodgers have almost no chance of signing their top pick, Texas high school right-hander Zach Lee . Some Dodgers fans are wondering whether that was their intention.

The Dodgers are mired in a financial mess stemming from the bitter divorce between owner Frank McCourt and former club president Jamie McCourt. So it sure would be helpful not to have to shell out for a first-round signing bonus, wouldn't it? At least that's the cynical view.

Dodgers assistant GM Logan White told reporters the team is committed to signing Lee.

"I know this, I'm optimistic we’re going to make our best effort, definitely our best effort, to get out there and get this done," White said. "I understand the concern. I’ve always tried to take the best player."

Lee was, by most accounts, indeed the best player on the board when the Dodgers picked 28th. He was still there because he has a firm commitment to play quarterback and pitch at LSU. He was seen as unsignable, and even if someone could pry him away from his college plans, it would take a lot more than 28th-pick bonus money to do it. If the Dodgers don't sign Lee, they get a compensatory pick in the sandwich round next year, so they lose next to nothing.

LSU football coach Les Miles released a statement saying he had met with Lee on draft day and that Lee was not only coming to LSU, he had already enrolled in summer classes. Baseball coach Paul Mainieri told the Times-Picayune that he had no doubt Lee was coming to Baton Rouge.

"To my knowledge, they (the Dodgers) had not had any conversations with him about whether he was signable," Mainieri said. "He probably had the reputation of being the toughest to sign in the country. His asking price was through the roof. He doesn't believe they are going to give him that ... why would the Dodgers take him?"

That's the question a lot of people are asking today.

-- David Andriesen