We knew that the Blue Jays were going to be big spenders in this year's draft, and they continue to confirm our suspicions with each passing hour. According to ESPN's Keith Law, the Blue Jays have signed 13th-round pick Matt Dean to a contract with a $737,500 bonus.
Dean, a third baseman out of high school in Texas, was considered a potential first-round pick after his junior year of high school, but struggles during his senior year ended up pushing him way down on draft boards. Combined with a strong commitment to the University of Texas, and many teams ended up shying away from the powerful infielder.
The Blue Jays continue to show that they're willing to take risks and spend money if that's what's necessary to add quality amateur talent to their farm system, and signing Dean is just another example of that paying off. With plus power, a solid bat and the potential to stick at third, Baseball America's Jim Callis called Dean a "sandwich-round talent" earlier today, which is pretty high praise.