“The Astros are offering to do a deal for about $5 million now, according to sources, about $1.5 million less than the originally agreed-upon $6.5 million, sources say,” according to Heyman, who says a deal looked close two weeks ago.

But Houston discoverd an issue with Aiken’s left elbow at a medical exam just before they were expected to announce the signing. Aiken was in Houston with his family for the expected announcement, but he went back to the San Diego area when the club called off the deal.

Aiken, a 6-3 power pitcher from Cathedral Catholic High in California, displays a polished delivery that isn’t often seen from prep pitchers. He became just the third prep pitcher to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick.

“Aiken has the weapons — fastball up to 95 mph, curveball, changeup, even a cutter he plays around with — the frame and the polish to project as No. 1 starter, and he’s been judiciously handled over the past year to try to keep him healthy,”  ESPN.com’s Keith Law wrote before the draft.

SLEEPING FAN SUES ESPN, YANKEES

A New York man who was caught sleeping at a recent Yankees game against the Red Sox on ESPN is filing a $10 million defamation suit against broadcasters Dan Shulman and John Kruk for their “avalanche of disparaging words,” according to the New York Post.

Andrew Robert Rector admitted that he “briefly slept” while in attending the April 13 game between the A.L. East rivals, and when ESPN cameras caught him sleeping during the fourth inning, the Sunday Night Baseball announcers launched into what he described as an “unending verbal crusade” against him, with their “vituperative utterances” redistributed on the MLB website the following day. 

ESPN, MLB and the Yankees are named as defendants in the suit.

TROUT, CABRERA OPT OUT OF DERBY

Superstar sluggers Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera have turned down invitations from American League captain Jose Bautista to participate in the 2014 Home Run Derby.

“I just want to be able to go and enjoy it,” Trout told MLB.com . “I always had fun watching it, growing up as a kid watching it on TV, and being able to sit on the sidelines is pretty cool.”

The Angels outfielder, who finished second to Cabrera in AL MVP voting in 2012 and 2013, is sixth in the league with 20 homers.

Cabrera told the Detroit News he also is planning to watch from the sidelines during the derby, which will take place at 8 p.m. ET on July 14. The Tigers first baseman, who hit 44 homers each of the past two seasons, has 14 this year, well down the AL leader board.

“I don’t want to mess with my swing anymore,” Cabrera told the newspaper with a laugh. “I’ve got enough issues.”

Nelson Cruz of the Orioles previously indicated he will not participate.

Troy Tulowitzki is the captain of the National League team, and Bautista leads the American League team. They’ll pick the other four players for their squads. So far, Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins is the only other confirmed participant.

REDS TRY BRUCE AT FIRST

The Reds are making a big switch to get by without Joey Votto.

Jay Bruce was ready to start at first base on Monday against the Chicago Cubs, the first time in his professional career that he’s played anywhere other than the outfield. Manager Bryan Price said Bruce will play first on occasion while Votto deals with a nagging thigh injury that could land him back on the disabled list.

“We don’t really have a bunch of true first basemen here besides Joey,” Price said. “So Jay’s been taking ground balls over there. And he has some history there — not a lot, and it’s not in pro ball, but he does have some history there and he looks athletic doing it.”

The big question is what to do with Votto.

The 2010 NL MVP missed 23 games with a strained muscle above his left knee. The Reds have said the injury won’t fully heal until after the season, but they’ll try to keep him in the lineup as much as possible.

He’s batting only .250 in 23 games since his return and hasn’t homered since May 10. He struck out three times during a 1-0 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday and got the next day off.

“It’s becoming apparent in the quality of his play that it’s not just something that’s an inconvenience,” Price said. “It’s getting to the point where it’s very difficult for him to compete.”

Votto went for another MRI on the leg before Monday’s game. Price said the team was waiting to get the results before deciding whether he needs to go back on the disabled list.

An error by Bruce let in a run but he later hit a two-run homer that turned things around.

INDUCTION WEEKEND

Attending the Hall of Fame induction weekend should be on every baseball fan’s bucket list. Not only are the new members there, obviously, but there is no better opportunity to see the game’s living legends in one place.

The Hall released the list of this year’s attendees, and it’s incredible. There will be 56 members of the Hall in Cooperstown, including Class of 2014 inductees Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, Tom Glavine, Tony La Russa, Joe Torre and Bobby Cox. 

The awards ceremony is June 26 and the induction ceremony is July 27. Both are free to the public. 

Here’s the list of members expected to attend, as provided by the Hall of Monday. 

Contributors: Justin McGuire, Troy Machir, Ryan Fagan, The Associated Press