It's starting to look like the A's may well get Max Stassi to sign on the dotted line.  According to the Appeal-Democrat newspaper in Marysville, California:

Stassi, who was taken in the fourth round, received an official offer from the A's on Monday, said Jim Stassi, Max's father and coach at Yuba City High.

And while the offer is still below "the bottom line" of what it would take to pull Max away from his full-ride scholarship, the offer still raised eyebrows.

"We're negotiating right now," Jim Stassi said. "It was more than what I anticipated they would offer."

The father declined to discuss monetary specifics of the offer or say just how close his son was to inking a contract with the A's. But he did say the offer was in first-round territory and they are "leaning that direction" toward the pros.

"They're definitely in the ballpark," Jim Stassi said of the offer.

The A's current bonus offer seems to be at least $1 million, which is basically low-first round money for the high school catcher.  The article goes on to say that "the Stassi camp wanted 'top-20 money'", but it would seem the two sides aren't that far apart.

I love this over-slot signing if it happens.  Stassi had a .514 batting average with 40 homer runs and 162 RBIs in high school, and in a college-level summer league with wooden bats he hit .301 average with 26 RBIs in 34 games.  Not bad for an 18-year-old.  And it seems to put to rest the concerns over the tendinitis in his shoulder.

Fingers crossed, but it's looking good.