Crow inks deal, but not with Nationals
Nationals first-round Draft pick, right-handed pitcher Aaron Crow, signed a contract to play for the Fort Worth Cats of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.
Washington has until midnight Friday to come to terms on a contract with Crow. If they two sides can't agree on a deal, Crow will go back into the Draft in 2009. Just because Crow signed with Fort Worth doesn't mean he can't work out a deal with the Nationals by the signing deadline.
In an interview with the Star-Telegram, Crow's agent, Randy Hendricks, said "We wouldn't have had him sign with the Cats if we thought he was going to sign with the Nationals," Hendricks said. "The last I talked with Jim Bowden, he didn't think there was anything more to talk about. I didn't disagree."
The Nationals and Crow are far apart on what they are willing to agree on. Reportedly, Crow wants a deal in the $8-$10 million neighborhood, with $4 million in guaranteed money. Washington feels Crow should get what they gave to Ross Detwiler, their first-round pick in 2007, a $2.15 million signing bonus.
When negotiations broke down with the Nationals, Crow said one reason he'd like to play for the Cats is that he has family members in the Fort Worth area.
This isn't the first time Fort Worth has signed a high Draft pick. In 2006, Max Scherzer, the 11th overall pick by Arizona, signed and started three games for the Cats, but on the eve of the signing deadline, he reached an agreement with the Diamondbacks.
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