Blue Jays sign 1st-round pick Deck McGuire, 3 other draft choices

Blue Jays sign RHP Deck McGuire, 3 other picks

TORONTO — The Blue Jays signed first-round draft pick Deck McGuire, agreeing to a minor league contract with a $2 million bonus.

McGuire’s deal was completed Monday at 11:59 p.m., while second-rounder Griffin Murphy, fourth-rounder Sam Dyson and fifth-rounder Dickie Thon Jr. also reached late agreements. Hours earlier, 15th-rounder Zak Adams and 17th-rounder Myles Jaye were signed, bringing the team’s final tally on the day to $5.4 million in bonuses.

Once a franchise that obediently followed Major League Baseball’s slot signing recommendations, the Blue Jays disregarded them this summer under new general manager Alex Anthopoulos.

“I would think strictly for the sheer number of picks in such high areas, that alone, even at standard signing bonuses for every single pick, we were going to reach new highs,” Anthopoulos said. “I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but I’m fairly certain it would be a high-water mark for us.”

Murphy received $800,000, Dyson $600,000 and Thon, who passed up a scholarship to Rice, $1.5 million. Adams and Jaye each got $250,000.

McGuire is a 6-foot-6 right-hander from Georgia Tech who went 28-7 with a 3.28 ERA in 45 starts for the Yellow Jackets. He was chosen 11th overall.

Murphy and Adams are left-handed pitchers, Dyson and Jaye are right-handers. Thon, a son of former major league infielder Dickie Thon, is a shortstop.