Nats expect to finalize deal with top pick Romero today

The Nationals and left-hander Seth Romero are expected to finalize a deal before today's 5 p.m. EDT deadline, ensuring the organization's first-round draft pick can begin his professional career in short order.

Romero, the 25th overall selection of last month's draft, has - like many first-round picks - delayed signing until deadline day, but he's expected to come to terms on time, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

Terms of Romero's expected deal aren't known, but the league-assigned slot value for the 25th pick is $2,530,400. FanRagSports.com was first to report the Nationals and Romero were close to a deal.

It also remains to be seen where the Nationals send Romero to begin his pro career. The location could suggest how quickly the club thinks he could rise up the organizational ladder.

A hard-throwing 21-year-old who came out of a major college program, Romero profiles as the type of draft pick who could be placed on a fast track to the big leagues. And given the Nationals' obvious need for bullpen help, it's not unfair to wonder whether he could find himself pitching in D.C. come September.

General manager Mike Rizzo downplayed that possibility on draft night, pointing out he has never had a draft pick make the majors later that season. Rizzo did not, however, completely rule it out.

Romero's situation doesn't fall under typical parameters. Touted as an early-first-round pick when the college season began, he wound up getting suspended by the University of Houston for a month, then only days after being reinstated was expelled from the team for - according to a report by the Houston Chronicle - getting into a fight with a teammate before a game.

Thus, Romero has not pitched since early May, which could prompt the Nationals to have him go through a spring training-type of throwing program before he pitches for any affiliates.