MLB Rumors: Ervin Santana, Stephen Drew, Kendrys Morales may wait until June to sign

Are you a fan of one of the teams vying to sign Ervin Santana, Stephen Drew or Kendrys Morales?

If so, you might be waiting a bit longer.

All three players were given qualifying offers by their former teams before free agency broke, meaning any team that signs one of aforementioned players will have to forfeit a draft pick – this in addition to the salary they have to shell out.

Teams have been reluctant to do such and it appears the three talents may wait until after the June amateur draft to sign as the draft pick compensation will expire after that date.

"Bean Stringfellow, the agent for right-hander Ervin Santana, said Sunday that the pitcher would consider holding out until after the amateur draft in early June if he does not receive an acceptable offer.Scott Boras, the agent for shortstop Stephen Drew and first baseman-designated hitter Kendrys Morales, also suggested that his clients might not sign until after the draft, when compensation no longer would apply."

It’s hard to believe any of the players will get much value out of a contract if they want until June to sign, so they may be shooting themselves in the foot financially. Of course, given spring training is already two weeks in, they may have already shot themselves in regards to a contract.

Though they will likely have a broader option of teams if they wait until the draft pick compensation rule expires.