Blue Jays do not sign first-round pick Bickford

Alex Anthopoulos was unable to come to terms with first-round pick Phil Bickford.

Phil Bickford will not be joining the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays could not come to terms with their first-round pick, who is expected to play next season at Cal State Fullerton.

Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told Sportsnet 590 The Fan’s Mike Wilner on Thursday that it was unlikely the team would sign the high-school right-hander.

It is the second time in three seasons that Anthopoulos and the Blue Jays have failed to sign their first-round draft pick (the last being Tyler Beede in 2011).

Toronto selected the 17-year-old fireballer with the No. 10 pick in the 2013 Draft out of Oaks Christian High School.

The team was said to have offered more than the slot price of $2,921,400 but it was not enough to convince the Bickford camp to join the organization.

As a result of not signing Bickford, the Blue Jays will receive the No. 11 pick in next year’s draft.

The Blue Jays had until 5 p.m. on Friday to come to terms with Bickford.

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