P Bobby Seay, the top pick of the Chicago White Sox in the June draft, is declared a free agent after the team failed to tender him a formal contract within 15 days of the draft, a violation of major league rules. Seay is the first player in the 32-year history of the draft to be declared a free agent in the summer he was selected; three more draftees – Travis Lee, John Patterson and Matt White – will also benefit from the ruling and sign lucrative contracts as a result.

This Day In Baseball

On August 15, 1996 — P Bobby Seay, the top pick of the Chicago White Sox in the June draft, is declared a free agent after the team failed to tender him a formal contract within 15 days of the draft, a violation of major league rules. Seay is the first player in the 32-year history of the draft to be declared a free agent in the summer he was selected; three more draftees – Travis Lee, John Patterson and Matt White – will also benefit from the ruling and sign lucrative contracts as a result.

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