The Friday deadline is approaching for the Houston Astros and No. 1 overall pick Brady Aiken remains unsigned. Aiken’s agent Casey Close and the Astros are currently in a standoff regarding a contract.
Aiken and the Astros were set to announce a $6.5 million signing bonus last week but the pitcher remains unsigned after the team expressed concern over his physical.
“We are extremely disappointed that Major League Baseball is allowing the Astros to conduct business in this manner with a complete disregard for the rules governing the draft and the 29 other clubs who have followed those same rules,” said Close, via FOX Sports.
Close also represents fifth-round pick Jacob Nix who has a $1.5 million deal on the table from the Astros.
The agent believes that the Astros are trying to use Aiken’s medical concern as a way to sign Nix and their 21-st round pick Mac Marshall. The Astros are worried about Aiken’s elbow ligament.
Thus far Major League Baseball has said that the Astros are doing nothing wrong.
