Oregon State first round pick Drew Rasmussen fails to sign with Tampa Bay Rays

Oregon State and Mt. Spokane right-hander Drew Rasmussen, drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 31st overall pick in the 2017 MLB first-year player draft, failed to come to an agreement with the team and will not sign, the team announced via a statement on Wednesday.

“As has been reported, we were unable to reach an agreement with Drew Rasmussen,” the team said in a statement. “We wish Drew the best as he moves forward. We will have no further comment on the matter.”

The news was reported by multiple sources earlier in the day.

According to sources, the Rays will not make a minimum offer to Rasmussen and he will become a free agent. Rasmussen, 21, could also return to Oregon State as a redshirt junior for 2018 if he doesn’t sign with another organization as a free agent.

The deadline for draft picks to sign is Friday.

The slot value for the 31st overall pick in the MLB draft this season was $2.1 million. Often, teams select college players in the late stages of the first round of the draft in order to attempt to sign them lower than slot value to redistribute the savings to other picks.

According to Tampa Bay Times reporter Marc Topkin, the Rays issued a statement simply stating they were “unable to reach agreement” with Rasmussen.

Rasmussen was an All-Pac-12 first team starter in his freshman year in 2015, compiling a 7-4 record with a 2.80 ERA and struck out 82 in 106 innings. He was also named a Collegiate Baseball, Baseball America, D1Baseball.com and NCBWA Freshman All-American.

He made six starts and pitched 37 innings as a sophomore in 2016 before tearing his UCL in March and undergoing Tommy John surgery.

He returned in 2017, making eight appearances and four starts. Rasmussen went 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 27 innings. He earned two saves and held opponents to a .192 average.