Should we? Will we? Did we?
The news that Aaron Crow signed with the Fort Worth Cats was a bit surprising.
“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.”
After talking to Dave last night about this, I think I’m going to ease up on the Front Office when it comes to Crow. Reports were that Crow was looking for $8-10 million and a major league contract. The team still has until Friday night to complete the deal. The major league contract is and should be a huge roadblock in negotiations. Having signed nine of the top ten, I’m okay with letting Crow walk. I think I am anyway. I’d still love to see him sign, but I guess I’m prepared for it if they don’t.
And with last night’s brutal shutout, we’re one step closer to landing Strasburg next year, a Boras client who will also come at a high price. Yesterday, the future Nat tossed 7 scoreless innings and didn’t give up a hit until the 7th in a gem against the Netherlands for Team USA.
Entries (RSS)
August 14th, 2008 at 9:42 am
I think rookie salaries are getting a little ridiculous all across the board. It’s been a problem in the NFL for a while, and now it’s spilling over to baseball. I still don’t see where the logic is in paying a guy that much money when he hasn’t even played in a major league game.
Just because he was a first-rounder doesn’t mean he’s going to be automatic.
I say take the money that would have gone to Crow and put it into the Texeira fund!!
August 14th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Rob - It’s a nice thought, but that is not going to happen. The money for draft picks is one budget. The money for free agents comes from another. While the Lerners are the ultimate source of all of the money, the Nationals are not pouring the money they aren’t spending on free agents into the minor leagues. Last year the Nationals spent the fifth most in MLB on the draft. And that total was less than $8 million. So I don’t believe it when the suggestion is made that the Nationals are not signing free agents by are instead putting that money in the farm.
As for this $8-10 million rumor … that was something that came up on draft day. All of it is just posturing.
Crow is not going to get $8 million.
The Nationals are not going to sign Crow at slot ($2.15M).
Both sides have too much to lose in not getting something done.
Which tells me something is going to happen at the 11th hour … somewhat less what Brian Matusz gets from Baltimore as the #4 pick
August 14th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Brian,
I know you cover and understand this stuff so much better than we do here. What do you make of the major league contract part of the negotiations? It looks like the O’s and Giants are offering big league contracts for their first rounders, but the Pirates don’t want to. Should we? Will we?
August 14th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Honestly. The major league contract should not be a hang up in the negotiations. There is some value in not setting the precedent of offering a major league contract but not enough to completely ignore it for the best players.
The Nationals called up Ryan Zimmerman and Ross Detwiler in September of the year they were drafted which places them on the 40-man roster.
There are some procedural things that would bore 99% of baseball fans that come with a major league contract. But the Nationals have people in place far smarter than me that have already thought through these repercussions.
At the end of this whole thing, I hope the Nationals do not hang an unsigned Crow on a “No Major League Contract” policy. I’ll cut them some slack if it’s an absurd bonus demand.
August 14th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Brian, I still believe it’s less about the money and more about the ML Contract. I don’t think Kasten has even given one out to a pitcher, and doesn’t want to start precedent now. Maybe that’ll earn Crow an additional $500K up front eventually, but like you said, moeny shouldn’t be the issue. they have that, in spades, to sign the draftees.
August 14th, 2008 at 11:34 am
If the don’t sign the draft picks,they won’t pony up for a guy like Texira,would get outbid anyway,what’s the pitch for next year? The record has gotten worse every year,can’t use the stadium thing.It’s not that there missing by a little,the team is really bad. I would imagine a lot of STH’s will not be back.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Ridgely-
Why do you just assume we would get outbid?
This team is located in a major market, so we can spend some FA money….it’s not like we’re in Pittsburgh.
I like the idea of an infield with Tex, Zimm, Guzman, Bonifacio/Belliard, and Flores(can’t imagine it could be that bad).
August 14th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Rob, the fact of the matter is the Nats won’t be outbid because they won’t bit on Teixiera at all. They will not attempt to sign any big-name free agents until the core (Zim, Milledge, Dukes, Flores and the young pitchers) are ready to compete. Most likely, we’re looking at 2010 at the earliest before they go looking for the “final piece”.
Shelling out a ton of money for Teixiera for next year to make 3-5 games difference isn’t something the organization plans to do. The Major League team is an afterthought to the organizational concerns right now. That’s why it’s CRITICAL that they sign Crow by tomorrow night’s deadline. Gotta get him in the fold.
August 15th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Pigs will fly before they sign a guy like Texeira or any top tier FA. It’s been reported Adam Dunn wants in excess of $100 Mill ofr a deal. Even with Bowden’s dangerous fetish for ex Reds,they won’t go after him for that kind of money. He’s hurt the franchise enough with wasteful trades for FLop, WMP and Austin Kearns. 9$Mill for Kearns next year. He should be fired for that alone. Another $5 million for Dmitri Young for next year. More good money after bad. You could have signed Dmitri for 1 year @$5mill. $6 mill for Estrada and LoDuca,more $$$ down the drain. It’s Redskinesque in dead money spent. I cannot believe they will trust Jim Bowden to waste anymore of their money. Hence,I don’t see any signings. I do believe Bowden will take the hit and be fired. Who comes in will have to sort this mess out and that will take awhile and a measured approach. I do agree strongly with Dave,they need to sign Crow. Badly.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Under 10 hours now to go…