All Out Sports Network has followed the story of MLB’s 2014 #1 draft pick Brady Aiken and the struggle the Houston Astros have had in signing him. The story concluded Friday afternoon with the two sides failing to reach an agreement by the 5:00 p.m. signing deadline. Aiken will now enter college rather than begin his professional career.
MLB.com’s Jim Callis reported the news just after the deadline passed. Callis notes that Aiken is only the third #1 overall pick ever to fail to sign and the first since Tim Belcher (Twins) in 1983. Aiken is also only the third-ever left-handed pitcher taken out of high school as the #1 pick. The failure to sign means that Aiken will attend UCLA, where he had already committed, and become eligible for the 2017 draft.
In addition, fifth-round pick Jacob Nix will also have his $1.5 million agreement with the team nullified as a result of the Aiken situation. Callis explained:
“But [Nix’s] deal was put on hold because if Houston paid him $1.5 million without signing Aiken, it would exceed its bonus pool by more than 15 percent — and lose its next two first-round picks as a penalty under the Draft rules.”
The $1.5 million was the amount of savings that Houston reportedly offered after hearing of a potential elbow ligament issue that Aiken’s agent, Casey Close, insists does not exist. According to Callis, Nix has also committed to UCLA , and both he and Aiken could switch to junior college and become eligible for the 2015 draft rather than having to wait until 2017.
To summarize, The Astros first offered Aiken $6.5 million to sign. A few weeks later, the rumors of the elbow problem came out, and Houston reportedly reduced the offer to $5 million. A few days later, Close said that Aiken is not injured and that the Astros actually offered approximately $3.1 million — just enough to get the #2 pick in 2015 should Aiken not sign.
Aiken is 17 years old, 6’4″, 205 lbs. and comes from Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, California. He throws in the mid-90’s with a very good curve ball and change-up. Whether in 2015 or 2017, Aiken will most likely earn another high draft spot — maybe not #1 but high enough to make himself a promising Major League pitching prospect in someone’s organization.
PHOTO CREDIT
: Four-Seam Images/AP
