Source: Red Sox agree with top pick Groome
Boston also strikes deals with fourth- and fifth-rounders
NEW YORK -- Around the same time the Red Sox traded 18-year-old pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza to the Padres for Drew Pomeranz, they secured the services of first-round Draft pick Jason Groome on a deal worth $3.65 million, multiple sources told MLB.com.
The contract for the 17-year-old lefty starter is pending the results of a physical, which took place in Boston on Thursday. Both sides were motivated to get a deal done before Friday's 5 p.m. ET deadline.
"We are encouraged," said Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. "Of course, we have until 5 o'clock tomorrow and we're still hopeful that everything will be done by that time."
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound lefty from Barnegat High School in New Jersey was the top-rated prospect by MLBPipeline.com entering the June Draft, and the Red Sox were able to get him with the 12th pick due to signability concerns.
Though trading a pitcher with Espinoza's talent is never easy, the fact that Groome is soon to be in the fold and Michael Kopech (ranked fourth among Red Sox prospects by MLB Pipeline.com) has been throwing well over 100 mph in his recent starts for Class A Salem made it a little easier for Boston's front office.
Groome has the looks of a future top-of-the-rotation starter. He features a fastball that sits at 93-94 mph and can reach 96, and he has a nasty curveball with tight rotation and bite.
He also has a history of rooting for the Red Sox, even though he grew up surrounded by Yankees fans.
"I always liked Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez," said Groome the night he was drafted. "I always liked Fenway Park. Everyone in my family is a Yankees fan. I always tended to like the Red Sox fans a little bit better. I've just taken them as my best team. Dustin Pedroia is my favorite player, just because of his work ethic, and David Price, who I like to model myself after, as well."
The Red Sox have also reached deals with fourth-round pick Bobby Dalbec and fifth-rounder Mike Shawaryn, a source told MLB.com's Jim Callis. Dalbec, a third baseman from the University of Arizona, agreed for $650,000 -- above the slot value of $501,300 -- while Shawaryn, a right-hander out of the University of Maryland, agreed for $637,500 deal, also above that pick's slot value ($375,500).
Ian Browne has covered the Red Sox for MLB.com since 2002. Follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne and Facebook. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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