It's a Tough Time to be a Houston Astros Fan; Team Fails to Sign No 1 Draft Pick

The Houston Astros took a giant step in the wrong direction by failing to sign their No.1 draft pick, Brady Aiken. This colossal meltdown makes Houston the first team in 31 years to fail at signing the No.1 pick in the MLB Draft.

The Astros had been in contract discussions with Aiken for months, with the offer on the table lessening each time. Aiken was initially offered $6.5 million, but when team doctors found an abnormality near a ligament in Aiken's throwing elbow, the number began to plummet.

Houston's offer dropped to $3.1 million while Aiken sought further medical analysis, having his own doctor look over the alleged injury. Aiken's doctor found the abnormality to be a non-issue; after all, he was still throwing at 98 mph.  

In a compromise, the Astros kicked up their offer to $5 million, but Aiken and his team of counselors failed to budge.

"We are disappointed that we were not able to reach an agreement with Brady Aiken today,'' the Astros said in a statement. "As an organization, we devoted a great deal of time and resources to these negotiations. Despite our best efforts, a deal could not be reached."

In previous years, the No.1 pick in the MLB Draft has made far more money than was being offered to Aiken. In 2009 Stephen Strasburg was offered $15.67 million, and Bryce Harper was signed the following year for $9.9 million. With those figures in mind, it's easy to see why Aiken would feel slighted at the offering.

"It is disappointing on any number of levels to think what has happened in that situation," union executive director of Tony Clark said. "The manipulation that we think happened in this case is going to lead us to have some conversations."

It is unknown what the course of action for both parties will be at this point. The Astros are off to a poor start with a fourth consecutive 100-loss season waiting in the wings.

The 'Golden Age' of Lance Berkman, Craig Biggio, Carlos Beltran and Roger Clemons seems like a distant memory in comparison with current turmoil. If the team is to stage a complete turnaround, draft picks have to be signed.

With their previous No. 1 pick Mark Apple still struggling in the minor leagues, it's a tough time to be an Astros fan. Apple's disappointing show may very well have affected the Houston Astros' reluctance to pay top dollar for another pitcher.