Houston, we may have a problem. More specifically, this year’s #1 overall draft pick may have a problem. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that Houston Astros prospect Brady Aiken may have an issue with the elbow ligament in his left arm, his throwing arm. As Heyman put it, the discovery has caused “the Astros to lower their offer and [delay] the deal between the Astros” and Aiken that the two sides had discussed in mid-June.
No. 1 pick brady aiken is said to have an elbow ligament issue. astros look to discount deal. story coming on @CBSSports
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 7, 2014
Recall that the Astros and Aiken reportedly reached a verbal agreement of approximately $6.5 million as a signing bonus. Heyman says that the Astros have reduced their offer to $5 million because of the possible ligament damage in Aiken’s pitching arm. The Astros discovered the issue when they had Aiken undergo a physical exam just before announcing the original deal.
Heyman reminds us that Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow wanted to sign Aiken well before July 18, but that is now not guaranteed. Heyman writes,
“Astros GM Jeff Luhnow expressed hope to CBSSports.com last week that they’d have Aiken signed by the July 18 deadline. Casey Close, Aiken’s adviser, didn’t immediately return a message Monday.”
With the wave of pitchers and even a few position players undergoing Tommy John surgery within the past few years, the Astros are right in reducing their offer. Top prospects often flounder even when healthy, and risking $6.5 million on a pitcher with an elbow problem is a gamble — although in today’s baseball terms, $1.5 million is not much of a savings. Aiken projects as a very solid Major League pitcher, but if he has an issue with the UCL, then he may be another surgery in waiting. He would still get $5 million, so he might want to take it very soon.
Fortunately, Aiken, age 17, is very young and still has a long career ahead of him whether he has surgery or not — hopefully not. The Astros and their fans certainly hope the problem is not serious and Aiken can begin his professional career this season.
PHOTO CREDIT: Four-Seam Images/AP
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