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Blue Jays 1st Round Pick Unlikely to sign

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Yesterday, GM Alex Anthopoulos finally came out and said it – The Blue Jays don’t expect to sign their first round pick (10th overall), Phil Bickford.

Bickford’s recommended slot value is approximately $2.9 million.  The Jays have been able to save money by signing other draft picks under slot, so it doesn’t appear that money is the issue.  The media is speculating that the Jays might have discovered something when Bickford underwent a physical that now make them reluctant to sign Bickford for the dollars it will take to pry him away from attending Cal State Fullerton next year.  MLB teams do not have access to players medical records prior to the draft.

Bickford is a 17-year-old right-hander who finished his senior year in high school with a 1.72 ERA, while allowing 44 hits and recording 159 strikeouts in 99.1 innings.

The Jays have until this evening to sign Bickford.  If they don’t, which is the likely scenario, the Jays will receive a compensation pick in the 2014 draft if they offered a minimum 40% of slot value.  Anthopoulos has stated publicly that the Jays will indeed receive a compensation pick if Bickford chooses not to sign.

It’s discouraging that the Jays won’t land their top pick for the second time in three years (2011 – Tyler Beede).  But at least they will get a compensation pick and I suppose we should give them credit for aggressively pursuing the youngster heralded as having the best highschool arm in the draft.

@IHRTBJs



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