Houston Astros fail to sign #1 overall draft pick Brady Aiken... wow

[Halu Sination]

The Astros were making so many strides in the right direction and then this blunder happens.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24627014/astros-brady-aiken

BRIEF SUMMARY: Astros claimed that they saw issues with his elbow from his physical and attempted to sign him for substantially less money (sources indicate they wanted to save money to give signing bonuses to other high draft picks). Aiken and his party were infuriated, claiming there was nothing wrong with his elbow, and he stood his ground out of principle.

Now that the deadline has passed, Aiken is speculated to being heading to UCLA, though he also has the option of going to a junior college and declaring for next year's draft.

[Hack Wilson - real]

Astros still got mad talented stacked up.  they just gotta play the waiting game.

[Halu Sination]

Astros still got mad talented stacked up.  they just gotta play the waiting game.

They're loaded with young talent for sure, but to draft him at #1 only to try to rip him off... come on man. Can't let a talent like that walk. Then again, I don't know Astros' financial situation. Maybe that extra couple million in that signing bonus would have hurt Astros deeply, I'm not too informed on what goes on behind the scenes with them.

[MistaNova]

What makes it worse for the Astros is that because they had to play the waiting game with Aiken (which they lost), they also failed to sign Jacob Nix and Mac Marshall, two other highly touted and important guys the Astros drafted who were going to cost a pretty penny.
So the rebuilding Astros not only lost 111 games in 2013 for nothing, but they also fucked themselves out of two other solid prospects who would've really boosted their farm system.

[Chamillitary Click]

Would suck if Brady gets hurt back in college now.

[Halu Sination]

What makes it worse for the Astros is that because they had to play the waiting game with Aiken (which they lost), they also failed to sign Jacob Nix and Mac Marshall, two other highly touted and important guys the Astros drafted who were going to cost a pretty penny.
So the rebuilding Astros not only lost 111 games in 2013 for nothing, but they also fucked themselves out of two other solid prospects who would've really boosted their farm system.

Yeah man, Jacob Nix got fucked over HARD. They promised him 1.5 million but lost that allotted slot money when they failed to sign their first overall pick (I didn't even know that's how draft signings work lol).

Supposedly, because Nix and Aiken share the same agent and are buddies, Astros tried to pressure the agent into accepting the deal so both dudes could get paid; even if it's less than what they agreed to with Aiken.

Astros haven't violated any regulations but that's some cheap ass shit.

[Remedy360]

Wow, how do you let something like that happen? If I were an Astros fan I would be absolutely enraged. Too bad there's no fans here to speak on it lol

[Halu Sination]

Wow, how do you let something like that happen? If I were an Astros fan I would be absolutely enraged. Too bad there's no fans here to speak on it lol

I can't speak for the general fanbase but I've read Astros sites (including SB Nation's) that defend the team vigorously for this. I think some Astros fans are so used to the team being cheap that they have actually applaud stingy antics at this point, regardless of the fact that it resulted in at least one player getting completely fucked over for no reason.

[Remedy360]

Wow, how do you let something like that happen? If I were an Astros fan I would be absolutely enraged. Too bad there's no fans here to speak on it lol

I can't speak for the general fanbase but I've read Astros sites (including SB Nation's) that defend the team vigorously for this. I think some Astros fans are so used to the team being cheap that they have actually applaud stingy antics at this point, regardless of the fact that it resulted in at least one player getting completely fucked over for no reason.

It's strange, as bad as the Astros have been I don't feel like they've been historically a cheap team (like KC or Florida) at least I don't remember them being that. But given the fact that they're in the M's division I hope this type of behavior continues.

[Halu Sination]

Wow, how do you let something like that happen? If I were an Astros fan I would be absolutely enraged. Too bad there's no fans here to speak on it lol

I can't speak for the general fanbase but I've read Astros sites (including SB Nation's) that defend the team vigorously for this. I think some Astros fans are so used to the team being cheap that they have actually applaud stingy antics at this point, regardless of the fact that it resulted in at least one player getting completely fucked over for no reason.

It's strange, as bad as the Astros have been I don't feel like they've been historically a cheap team (like KC or Florida) at least I don't remember them being that. But given the fact that they're in the M's division I hope this type of behavior continues.

Good point. There was the controversy with the Jonathan Singleton signing as well, but that was more Singleton's mistake rather than Astros being cheap. Cheap or not, it could be that they're just so accustomed to spending so little money that the lowballing of Brady Aiken came natural to them.

[Hack Wilson - real]

they are an extremely cheap team as far as free agents go now but a youngster like this?  they should have no problem affording him.

[Remedy360]

they are an extremely cheap team as far as free agents go now but a youngster like this?  they should have no problem affording him.

Maybe now, but back like 10 years ago? They had HOF caliber guys like Bagwell, Biggio, Pettite, Clemens, etc. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't feel they were always cheap.

[Hack Wilson - real]

yeah back in the Bagwell era  (who they stole from the Red Sox, by the way) they weren't cheap


dunno if they've changed management or anything like that