Top picks remain unsigned with deadline approaching

[BLUE 1,026]

By Matt Jones, USA TODAY

 

Just six first round picks remain unsigned entering Friday's First-Year Player Draft 5 p.m. ET signing deadline.

 

Those players – Kevin Gausman (No. 4, Orioles), Mark Appel (No. 8, Pirates), Andrew Heaney (No. 9, Marlins), Lucas Giolito (No. 16, Nationals), Richie Shaffer (No. 25, Rays) and Ty Hensley (No. 30, Yankees) – will either sign before the deadline or enter/return to the ranks of college baseball.

 

Major League Baseball's restructured draft system, which gives each team a pool of money to sign their picks, has changed the way players are signed. For example, the Orioles have in the neighborhood of $4.2 million to spend on Gausman without forfeiting picks in 2013. In 2011, the Orioles drafted high school right-hander Dylan Bundy at No. 4 overall for $6.25 million.

 

Here are the differences in signing bonuses for the 2011 and 2012 top five picks:

 

No. 1

 

• 2011: Gerrit Cole, RHP - $8 million
  
• 2012: Carlos Correa, SS - $4.8 million
  

No. 2

 

• 2011: Danny Hultzen, LHP - $8.5 million
  
• 2012: Byron Buxton, OF - $6 million
  

No. 3

 

• 2011: Trevor Bauer, RHP - $4.45 million
  
• 2012: Mike Zunino, C - $4 million
  

No. 4

 

• 2011: Dylan Bundy, RHP - $6.25 million
  
• 2012: Kevin Gausman, RHP - unsigned
  

No. 5

 

• 2011: Bubba Starling, OF - $7.5 million
  
• 2012: Kyle Zimmer, RHP - $3 million
  

In addition to the new rules, the signing deadline is significantly earlier this year. In years past, the deadline had been midnight August 15, meaning many players would not begin their playing careers until the following spring.

 

In 2011, just 10 of the 32 first round players signed prior to the deadline.

 

That changed with the July 13 deadline. Many of the players drafted a month ago are playing in the Arizona Rookie League, including Zimmer (Royals), Max Fried (Padres) and Stryker Trahan (Diamondbacks).

 

Last year, top talents like Bundy and Starling of the Royals did not begin their professional careers until the beginning of 2012.

 

There have been rumblings that two players in particular – LSU's Gausman and Stanford's Appel – could return to school instead of signing. While the teams have the ability to pay the players, no team has been willing to forfeit future picks for this year's draft.

 

Last year, only one first round pick did not sign prior to the midnight deadline. Tyler Beede, drafted by the Blue Jays at No. 21 overall, opted to attend Vanderbilt instead of signing the reported $2.5 million offered by the Blue Jays.

 

The Houston Astros, along with several other clubs, opted to draft cheaper, more-signable players early in an effort to maximize returns in the later rounds. Houston, which took Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa No. 1 overall, shifted the money saved on Correa to No. 41 overall pick Lance McCullers, who signed for double slot value at $2.5 million.

 

With agents like Scott Boras involved, expect the unsigned players to take their deals down to the 5 p.m. ET deadline.

 

Source: USA Today