Here we go again. The deadline for major league teams to sign their 2011 amateur draft picks is Monday night, and — no big shock here — most early round selections have yet to say “I do” to their respective drafters. Among the 60 players taken in the first round and supplemental round are three Washington selections: Anthony Rendon (taken sixth overall), Alex Meyer (23rd) and Brian Goodwin (34th). As of Friday, all three were still mulling over their offers, though it’s entirely possible the representatives for the trio only opened negotiations this weekend.
Not that there’s anything wrong, or even unique about that. More than 25 of Washington’s amateur picks this year were unsigned as of Friday, and some may have decided on draft day that they weren’t going sign anyway.
One particular hard case is third-round pick (97th overall) Matt Purke, a left-handed pitcher out of TCU. Purke was previously drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2009 with the 14th overall pick. He agreed to a $6 million deal, but MLB nixed it because the Rangers were in financial distress and a sale looked imminent. He returned to school, but saw his stock drop along with his fastball velocity this year. He reportedly wants that $6 million now, or will go back to school and try to rebuild his value.
Going back into the draft a second, or even third time, has happened too often to recount.
Lefty Mark Hendrickson, now pitching with the Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate, was drafted six times before he finally signed with Toronto in 1998. At least he’s had a career.
California high school pitcher Matt Harrington was drafted in the first round by the Rockies in 2000, and turned down a $4 million signing bonus. The next year, he was drafted by the Padres in the second round and turned down a $1.2 million bonus. In 2002, the Rays took Harrington in the 13th round and offered 13th round money, and he said no. He was taken by the Reds in the 24th round the next year and offered a standard contract which he refused. The Yankees took him in the 36th round in 2004 but decided against offering him a contract. Harrington actually signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in the fall of ’06 but was released before the start of the next season.
The time has come for MLB to consider moving the signing deadline up a few weeks to mid-July. That would bring a greater sense of urgency to the “will-he-or-won’t-he?” scenario and force the issue on both sides of the table. While they’re at it, I’d also advocate changing the rule so you could trade a signed pick without having to wait a year to do so. That way you might see some sign-and-trade deals at the non-waiver trading deadline.
It’s a good thing Mike Rizzo doesn’t mind staying up late.
Examiner columnist Phil Wood is a baseball historian and contributor to MASN’s Nats Xtra. Contact him at [email protected].
