Pirates sign top draft pick
UCLA pitcher Gerrit Cole and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the deadline to sign when the top selection in the June amateur draft agreed late Monday night to a minor league contract with an $8 million signing bonus.
Cole had been among 23 first-round picks facing a midnight deadline to reach agreements with major league teams.
Scott Boras, Cole’s agent, also negotiated a $7.5 million signing bonus for high school outfielder Bubba Starling with the Kansas City Royals, and a $7.4 million, four-year major league contract for Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon with the Washington Nationals. Starling was the fifth overall pick and Rendon sixth.
Virginia left-hander Danny Hultzen agreed to an $8.5 million, five-year contract with Seattle that included a $6.35 million signing bonus.
Tigers pick up Young from Twins
Delmon Young found out he was traded from Minnesota to Detroit, hours before the two teams were scheduled to face off.
The Tigers are the latest team hoping Young can finally live up to expectations. Once one of baseball’s top prospects, the former No. 1 draft pick was traded for a minor league pitcher and a player to be named. Detroit immediately put him in the lineup, batting third and playing left field.
Vote to approve sale of Astros postponed
Major League Baseball has postponed a vote to approve the proposed sale of the Houston Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane.
The $680 million agreement was reached May 16, and baseball commissioner Bud Selig said at the All-Star game last month that the sale was on track for approval. Owners had anticipated a vote when they meet Thursday in Cooperstown.
Rangers to honor fallen fan with statue
The Texas Rangers fan killed last month when he fell from the stands at Rangers Ballpark while reaching for a ball will be honored with a bronze statue at the stadium.
The Rangers announced that the statue will depict Brownwood firefighter Shannon Stone and his 6-year-old son Cooper at a Rangers game.