Blue Jays: Looking back at high valued draft picks who didn't sign

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In recent years, the Toronto Blue Jays have done very well in the amateur draft, selecting top prospects Austin Martin, Alek Manoah, and Jordan Groshans while building a top ten farm system. While the Blue Jays have had their fair share of draft successes and busts in recent memory, some players just didn’t end up signing on the dotted line when the deadline came and went even though they were selected high in the draft.

Here’s a look at some of those players who were drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays and choose not to sign with the organization.

James Paxton – LHP

Drafted: 37th overall in the CA in 2009

Born in Ladner, British Columbia, the Blue Jays drafting southpaw James Paxton seemed like a Hallmark movie in the making with a Canadian being selected by the only major league baseball team stationed North of the border. The Jays’ selected Paxton in the supplemental first round as compensation for losing A.J. Burnett in free agency the prior off-season

Pitching for the University of Kentucky at the time, Paxton and the organization could not reach an agreement on a signing bonus, with the Jays questioning super-agent Scott Boras’s involvement in the negotiations (as amateur players cannot have legal representation while playing in the NCAA), with Paxton eventually suing the university and playing independent ball the next year.

The very active Blue Jays are looking at starting pitching now and have James Paxton among others on their radar
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 22, 2021

Paxton would be selected by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round next season and has pitched to a 3.59 ERA over 754.2 innings with 231 walks and 831 strikeouts while with the Mariners and the New York Yankees. One of his biggest career accomplishments would be throwing a no-hitter against the Blue Jays in Rogers Centre back in 2018.

Paxton recently signed a one-year deal to return to the Mariners this season, with the Blue Jays seeming interested in his services in the off-season. He would be forced to undergo Tommy John surgery after pitching just 1.1 innings in his first start of the season, sidelining him until at least next year.

For failing to sign Paxton, the Jays selected Noah Syndeerguard next year at 38th overall as compensation.

Kris Bryant – 3B

Drafted: 546 overall in the 18th round in 2010

That’s right. The Toronto Blue Jays once drafted Kris Bryant.

While it wasn’t the highest draft selection that year, back when he was in high school, the right-handed infielder had a commitment to the University of San Diego and was not very interested in turning pro out at the time. The Jays still selected him in the 18th round, hoping he may change his mind.

This would not happen, as the two sides apparently never sat down for a meeting and the organization never really offered the future all-star a contract to try and convince him to forego his college commitment. Bryant would eventually be selected by the Chicago Cubs second overall in 2013, eventually winning an MVP award and a World Series with the Cubs organization.

Through seven seasons, the third baseman sports a career .282/.381/.513 slash line with 152 home runs, 442 RBI, and a .894 OPS. The third baseman is a free agent at the end of the campaign and there are some rumours that the Cubs may move him around the trade deadline this year, with the Jays possibly in the mix for his services if the price is right.

Sep 26, 2019; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Beede (38) delivers against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Cody Glenn-USA TODAY Sports /

Tyler Beede – RHP

Drafted: 21st overall in the first round in 2011

A high schooler at the time of the 2011 amateur draft, the Blue Jays decided to use their first pick on Tyler Beede, a pitcher from Lawerence Academy in Groton, Massachusets.

Committed to playing college baseball at Vanderbilt University, Alex Anthopoulos and co. decided to take a gamble and draft Beede knowing he was commited to the university. Even though the team offered him a signing bonus worth over $2 million dollars, the two sides never came to an agreement and Beede would go on to play for Vanderbilt.

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The right-hander would eventually be selected by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the 2014 draft at 14th overall, receiving a signing bonus worth $2.65 million from the organization. Beede would make his major league debut in 2018 and currently sports a 5.27 ERA through 124.2 innings with 54 walks and 122 strikeouts. The right-hander would not pitch in 2020 after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier in the year and is currently rehabbing in the minor leagues.

As compensation for failing to sign Beede, the Blue Jays would select Marcus Stroman at 22nd overall in 2012.

Phil Bickford – RHP

Drafted: 10th overall in the first round in 2013

Another high school selection in the first round, California native Phil Bickford was another pitcher to spurn the Blue Jays in order to play college baseball.

With a commitment to Cal State Fullerton, Bickford and the Blue Jays failed to reach an agreement with the right-hander, the second time in three years that the front office could not sign their first overall selection. The tenth spot had a slot value of $2,921,400 dollars, and while A.A. apparently offered above slot value to Bickford, the high schooler could not be swayed and would go on to play college baseball.

The Dodgers recalled RHP Phil Bickford from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed RHP Jimmy Nelson on the 10-day injured list with right forearm inflammation, retroactive May 21.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 23, 2021

Bickford would be drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round, 18th overall two years later, signing for roughly $2.3 million. In 2016, the Giants would trade Bickford and catcher Andrew Susac to the Milwuakee Brewers for pitcher Will Smith.

Bickford would make his major league debut in 2020, going one inning while giving up four earned runs with two strikeouts. He would make one appearance in 2021 for the Brewers, going one inning while surrendering two earned runs before being designated for assignment at the end of April. The Los Angeles Dodgers would select him off waivers, and he was recently recalled from the minor leagues on May 23. Through two appearances and 1.1 innings with the Dodgers, Bickford has thrown to a 0.00 ERA with three strikeouts.

With the Blue Jays failing to sign Bickford, they were compensated with the 11th overall pick in the 2014 draft and would select catcher Max Pentecost.

KANSAS CITY, MO – MAY 22: Brady Singer #51 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on May 22, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images) /

Brady Singer – RHP

Drafted: 56 overall in the second round in 2015

One of the last draft selections under A.A. as the general manager, the front office went with Brady Singer, a high school pitcher from Leesburg, Florida.

Committed to the University of Florida at the time, both sides could not come to an agreement, with scouting directer Brian Parker stating, “it wasn’t a financial decision”. Singer would pitch three years at Florida before being selected in theh first round by the Kansas City Royals in the 2018 amateur draft.

2nd-rder Brady Singer officially not signing with @BlueJays. @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 17, 2015

The right-hander would make his major league debut with the Royals last season and currently sports a 4.03 ERA through 21 starts with 40 walks and 107 strikeouts.

For failing to sign Singer, the Blue Jays were awarded the 57th overall selection in the 2016 draft, using the spot to select outfielder J.B. Woodman.

Notables

Tanner Houck – RHP

Drafted: 354 overall in the 12th round in 2014.

A high school pitcher at the time, Tanner Houck would go on to play for Missouri after not being able to agree to terms with the Blue Jays. The Boston Red Sox would later select him in the first round three years later.

Currently ranked as the Red Sox #6 prospect, Houck sports a 1.98 ERA and 33 strikeouts through limited action on the major league roster.

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Shea Langeliers – C

Drafted: 1032 overall in the 34th round in 2016

A hail mary pass if you would, the Blue Jays selected Shea Langeliers when he was a high school prospect and was most likely not going to be turning profesisonal after comitting to Baylor University. Can’t fault them for trying.

He would later be drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round in 2019, going ninth overall. He is currently playing in AA and is ranked 59th overall in the top 100 prospects per MLB Pipeline, sporting a .186/.364/.442 slash line in AA this year through 15 games.

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Blue Jays: Looking back at high valued draft picks who didn’t sign

Here’s a look at some of those players who were drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays and choose not to sign with the organization.

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

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