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Appel won’t sign with Pirates, will return to Stanford

Pitcher Mark Appel will return to Stanford instead of signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates. (Associated Press)
From Wire Reports
Pitcher Mark Appel will return to Stanford instead of signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates. (Associated Press)

Mark Appel spurned the Pittsburgh Pirates and decided to remain at Stanford for his senior season, one of the first big casualties of baseball’s new restrictions on amateur signing bonuses.

Appel is the only one not to sign out of 31 first-round picks.

Projected by some to be the top pick, the right-hander was selected eighth by the Pirates. That pick has a signing slot of $2.9 million in baseball’s new labor contract, and the team could have signed him for about $3.5 million to $3.9 million without incurring any penalties, such as a tax and the loss of future draft picks. Pittsburgh’s final offer was $3.8 million.

Penalties are now imposed on clubs that exceed their threshold – the total of the slots for a team’s selections in the first 10 rounds. Under the labor deal, the deadline for draft picks to sign was 5 p.m. Friday, a month earlier than under the previous deal.

Because Appel didn’t sign, the Pirates will receive an extra first-round pick in next June’s draft, the ninth selection overall. Appel will go back into next year’s draft.

Clearing the bases

The Orioles agreed to a contract with LSU right-hander Kevin Gausman, the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft, for a $4.32 million signing bonus. … The Marlins agreed to a contract with first-round draft pick Andrew Heaney, giving the Oklahoma State left-hander a $2.6 million signing bonus. He was the ninth pick overall. … The Yankees agreed to a contract with first-round draft pick Ty Hensley, giving the 18-year-old right-handed pitcher a $1.2 million signing bonus. … The Mets called up left-hander Josh Edgin from Triple-A Buffalo to pitch in relief. The Mets placed right-hander Dillon Gee on the 15-day disabled list. Gee was scheduled for right shoulder surgery on Friday in St. Louis and could miss the remainder of the season. … Lance Berkman could be activated today for the second game of the Cardinals’ series against the Reds. The first baseman tore cartilage in his right knee while stretching for a throw on May 19. … The Red Sox activated center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury from the disabled list. He has been out since hurting his right shoulder on April 13 while trying to break up a double play. … The Dodgers activated star outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier from the disabled list, and they optioned outfielders Elian Herrera and Scott Van Slyke to Triple-A Albuquerque.