MLB News & Rumors: Diamondbacks Beat Deadline to Sign Top Overall Pick Dansby Swanson
Cesar Tordesillas | | Jul 20, 2015 11:08 AM EDT |
(Photo : Getty Images/Peter Aiken)
The Arizona Diamondbacks was able to sign shortstop Dansby Swanson, 2015 first overall pick, to a $6.5 million signing bonus just before the deadline for him to reach a deal.
Diamondbacks' senior vice president of baseball operations De Jon Watson, heaved a sigh of relief after the close call,.
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Watson revealed the signing was around 10 to 15 minutes before deadline.
Steve Gilbert of mlb.com was the first to report about the transaction.
The Diamondbacks made a final offer of a deal well below the $8,616,900 recommended for the first overall pick and waited to see if Swanson accepted, according to ESPN.
The Diamondbacks reportedly would have refused to make Swanson the top pick had they known hat he would not sign at he price they wanted--matters now being being ascertained through draft research and scouting.
Draft picks with remaining college eligibility had until 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Friday to agree on a minor league contract.
Had Diamondbacks failed to close a deal, Swanson would have been eligible to play for Vanderbilt as a senior.
The team would then get the No. 2 overall pick next June.
There's a reason for the Diamondbacks to get nervous with Swanson's situation after last year's No.1 pick Brady Aiken didn't sign with the team that picked him, the Houston Astros.
It was the third time that the top player chosen in the MLB draft didn't sign.
Furthermore, Swanson and Aiken shared the same adviser in MLB agent Casey Close.
League observers were surprised that it took the last day for Swanson to sign as there wasn't a "drama" being played out between the parties, like what transpired last year between Aiken and the Astros.
Every first-round pick has now been signed to a contract before the deadline.
The most notable player that wasn't signed was pitcher Kyle Funkhouser, who was taken at No. 35 by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Funkhouser said he had decided to return to Louisville for his senior season.
Swanson, who hit .325 with 15 home runs, 64 RBIs and 76 runs as a junior last season, said it wouldn't be a bad thing to return to Vanderbilt.
Swanson was the most outstanding player in the 2014 College World Series and again helped the Vanderbilt reach the Series in 2015, eventually losing to Virginia.
TagsDansby Swanson, 2015 first overall pick, De Jon Watson, Arizona Diamondbacks, Brady Aiken, Houston Astros, Casey Close, Kyle Funkhouser
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