Report: Grievance between Braves, 2018 1st-round pick resolved
A grievance has been resolved between the Atlanta Braves and Carter Stewart, the eighth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, according to David O'Brien of The Athletic.
The MLB Players Association filed a grievance on Stewart's behalf after the right-hander alleged the team didn't make an adequate offer commensurate with his high draft position.
As a result of the resolution, the Braves will retain the ninth overall selection in this June's draft.
During the 2018 draft, the slot value for the eighth overall selection was $4,980,700. Teams are required to make an offer worth at least 40 percent of the slot value in order to gain a compensation pick in the following year's draft for being unable to sign a top selection. Therefore, to qualify for the No. 9 pick as compensation in the 2019 MLB Draft, the Braves would have had to make a roughly $2-million offer to Stewart, and the 19-year-old would have had to reject it.
According to O'Brien, the team made an undisclosed offer after becoming concerned about Stewart's right-wrist injury. The sides then failed to reach an agreement prior to the July 6 deadline.
Following the failure to sign, Stewart and the MLBPA filed a grievance that sought to make the prospect a free agent. Last week, Stewart enrolled at Eastern Florida State College, a junior college near his hometown. He'll be eligible for the 2019 draft, and the Braves won't be unable to select him without his written consent.
In 11 games for Eau Gallie High School in 2017-18, Stewart authored a 0.91 ERA with 128 strikeouts over 61 2/3 innings.