June 7th, 2010 should have been one of the most exciting days in the life of former Texas A&M pitcher Barret Loux. After being selected with the #6 pick in the 2010 amateur draft, Loux likely had visions of seven figure signing bonuses dancing in his head. After all, the player chosen before him, Drew Pomeranz, signed for $2.65M with the Indians and the player chosen after him, Matt Harvey, signed for $2.5M with the Mets.
Unfortunately for Loux, everything went south in the middle of July when he failed a physical given by the Arizona medical staff and it seemed all but certain that the Diamondbacks would decline to sign Loux and instead receive the 7th pick of the 2011 draft as compensation.
The draftee signing deadline came and went this past Monday and Loux remained unsigned by the team that drafted him, marred by his failed physical. Typically players do not sign because they either go to school (such as #14 pick, Dylan Covey) or want more money (such as #9 pick, Karsten Whitson). Loux was in a very unique situation, having been unsigned for physical reasons.
The resulting situation was a tough one for Loux, who had no rights to negotiate with other teams while the Diamondbacks could sit back and take another pick next year and focus on signing their other draft picks. However, everything changed for Loux yesterday when the Diamondbacks and Loux came to an agreement with the permission of the commissioners office to make Loux a free agent on September 1st, 2010, reports John Manuel of Baseball America.
