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Aaron Crow's Perspective
Jim Bowden and the Nationals failed to sign first round draft pick Aaron Crow over a mere $900K. The process was a sticky one, to say the least.
Eric SanInocencio, host of Baseball Digest Daily Live, sat down with Crow yesterday for an intriguing podcast and got his perspective in the failed negotiations. The interview is about 15 minutes into the show:
- Crow said the process was an emotional roller coaster, but was content with the resolution. In dealing with Washington and the way they handled the process and communicated with him and his family, he began to realize he'd be better off next year dealing with any of the other 29 clubs. According to Crow, after speaking with Jim Bowden and being congratulated for being picked, he "didn't hear back from him for... the whole rest of that month."
- Crow didn't seek advice with former Missouri teammate Max Scherzer, or Luke Hochevar, figuring it worked out for them so it'd work out for him. He said he put himself up against those guys, believing in himself, "believing in a similar outcome as well."
- He admitted to seeking a major league deal that would put immediately on the 40-man roster. According to Jim Bowden, when he asked the rationale was behind such a deal, Crow's agents, the Hendricks, failed to respond. In the end, their insistence on a major league deal was dropped but Bowden would not meet the $4.4MM asking price.
- When asked if he would accept a situation in which the Nationals drafted him again next year, Crow said he "would prefer if they stayed away from me and drafted somebody else. I'd be a lot more comfortable and would work out better for both of us if they just decided to go with other players."
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Bowden should get the axe already, how can you not sign such a talented and close to MLB player because of 900k. Its not like 4.4MM is that much either.
Posted by: viktor06 | August 24, 2008 at 10:57 AM
is this any surprise? Bowden is the worst GM ever. I remember when Sowers told him he would not sign with cincy before the draft. Who did he draft? Sowers.
Posted by: DocBot | August 24, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Really makes Crow look like a greedy d-bag.
Posted by: John Difford | August 24, 2008 at 11:06 AM
i don't think it makes him look greedy. if i were a top 10 pick i would at least expect the gm to be half interested in me. if this guy was a possible top of the rotation starter wouldn't you want to wrap that deal up asap?
Posted by: msk86 | August 24, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Ya I think it makes Bowden look more the d bag than crow.
Posted by: ballerwhiteboy | August 24, 2008 at 11:34 AM
They're both d-bags. And the communication completely sucked on both sides.
And Crow's an idiot for going to an independent league over school.
Posted by: wickedwitch | August 24, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Well, the owner is a d-bag, but I have a hard time sympathizing with a player who has never pitched an inning of major league baseball making those kinds of demands. Players should be paid based on how they actually perform, not on some projection. It's ridiculous that guys like Pavano are getting paid millions for doing nothing for 3 years, or guys like Zito are getting like 500 grand every time they go lay a big stinking turd out there on the field, or guys like Crow who get a huge bonus and a guaranteed contract before they ever throw a single pitch.
If you want to give a guy money ahead of time, then he should have to repay some of it if he fails to perform, just like all the other working stiffs would have to do back in the real world.
Posted by: J the Dizzolla | August 24, 2008 at 11:55 AM
I just listened to the interview, and my main impression was that Crow really did not want to sign with Washington.
He also thinks he'll be in a better position next year.
Posted by: wickedwitch | August 24, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Didn't say anywhere that Crow was reportedly asking for a 9 million dollar bonus and a Major League deal. I would think that would put any GM on his heels and back away a bit. Bowden is not a great GM by any means but when Crow's agents are demanding better than #1 overall money, you really can't blame the GM for not being overly enthusiastic.
Again, looking at it from both sides, I fault the player more than the team for walking away over a "measly 900k".
Lets hope Boras scares off the Nats from Strasburg so he can come to Seattle where he belongs! ;)
Posted by: thr33niL | August 24, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Crow took every opportunity in that interview to rip away at the Nationals. Stuff like: "The way they dealt and handled everything, the way they talked to me and my family...I think any of the 29 other teams would have handled it better. I'm just really looking to get into a better situation than I was dealing with the Nationals." Classy kid. F Crow, bring on Strasburg. Hopefully the Nationals' cheapskate owners (http://www.nationalsenquirer.com/2008/08/blame-cheapskat.html) get comfortable with the idea of paying a king's ransom...
Posted by: The Nationals Enquirer | August 24, 2008 at 02:00 PM
"If you want to give a guy money ahead of time, then he should have to repay some of it if he fails to perform, just like all the other working stiffs would have to do back in the real world."
That is stupid. What career could you possibly be thinking of?
The kid thinks he can get more money, a better deal, from a better team, under the direction of a better GM next year. Good for him.
Posted by: yeahmahlins | August 24, 2008 at 02:48 PM
I realize I didn't word that very well. My point is that in a real job, a person is hired to do something, and do it reasonably well. If he can't, or doesn't, he's fired. But in baseball you give a guy 100 million dollars for 5 years and he doesn't have to do a damn thing to keep that money. I know that's the way it goes, but that doesn't keep me from shaking my head and proclaiming that's jacked up.
Posted by: J the Dizzolla | August 24, 2008 at 04:05 PM
You're not comparing apples to apples. Baseball is not like a regular job. If you want to make comparisons, it's like a job where you're brought in on a contract.
That in mind, yes, if you suck at such a job you often get the remainder of your contract if they fire you, or a generous severance package, unless the company has managed to sneak some language into the contract that says otherwise.
Legally speaking, a contract requires a "meeting of the minds," and unless the language of the contract says differently it can't be terminated unilaterally by any one side. Maybe Crow overplayed his hand, and maybe he'll come to regret it, but so long as a new player is under team control for no less than six years after the draft I certainly won't blame any of them for anything they demand.
Posted by: Jon B. | August 24, 2008 at 05:24 PM
Tim, can we do something about this bonehead who keeps posting a link to the PTI spoof? He's been doing so since the trading deadline.
Posted by: Aaron | August 24, 2008 at 06:09 PM
popparomeo, stop with the pti nonsense. we don't care anymore.
Crow is smart to steer clear of the Nats. Bowden keeps them from succeeding.
Posted by: twoseamer | August 24, 2008 at 08:57 PM
"You're not comparing apples to apples. Baseball is not like a regular job."
Yeah, that's my whole point - it should be.
Posted by: J the Dizzolla | August 25, 2008 at 06:25 AM