Report: Top pick Brady Aiken has elbow issue, Astros seek discount

Brady Aiken, the top pick in this year's MLB Draft by the Houston Astros, has a ligament issue in his elbow and the Astros will look to sign him at a discounted rate, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports. 

Aiken, a 17-year-old left-handed pitcher from San Diego, was reportedly set to sign two weeks ago for $6.5 million, but the deal was called off. Heyman reports that the snag was a result of Aiken's elbow issue and that the Astros are offering around $5 million now. MLB's slotting system values the top overall pick at $7.9 million. 

This was the third consecutive year that the Astros had the top pick in the draft. In 2012 they selected Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa, who suffered a season ending injury in June at Class A Lancaster. Houston's top pick in 2013, Stanford right-hander Mark Appel, has an 8.91 ERA this season in Single-A ball. 

The deadline for Houston to sign Aiken is July 18. 

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—Dan Gartland