Nationals Fail To Sign Aaron Crow

How long before Bowden actually gets fired. his is just a joke. Signing guys like pena,kearns,lopez and then screwing up with the most valuable asset especially for the Nats.

Now, Tim, How does this work? Can any team now go out and buy him out of the independent leagues?

I was pulling for the White Sox to draft Crow. Would it be possible to pick him up from Fort Worth?

I almost can't express how much I hate Jim Bowden. If Washington is ever going to win, he has to go.

He can occasionally get the little things right, but the big picture just escapes the man on a truly shameful level.

I think Crow would not be eligible until next year's draft, but not sure. Also could be grandstanding until Friday.
Certainly not 1 to defend Bowden, but the kearns/lopez trade was considered a steal at the time. Pena played well last year after that trade as well. Many other moves (and non-moves) to question before those 2

I can totally understand that the draft is the best way for a team like the Nationals to improve, but I think that if things with Crow don't work out, it will be in the best interest of the Nats. A major league deal for between 8 and 10 million? Thats a big risk for a team like the Nats. While I realize that signing the 1st round pick for a team like the Nats may be just as important symbolically for the fans as it is for their farm system, those demands are rediculous, and maybe it is in the teams best interest to let him go, and take the #10 pick next year.

Yep - dorfmac's got it right. The Nats drafted Crow at #9, so they will get a comp pick immediately after the #9 pick in next year's draft. It's a rule designed to give teams considerable leverage in negotiating with draft picks.

As for Crow's ultimate fate, he goes back into the draft each year until he signs with somebody (or until he becomes Matt Harrington).

The Nationals hold Crow's rights for one year. He would re-enter the draft next year (if the Nats don't sign him this year), and the Nats could not draft him again unless Crow agrees to it.

Also, with the fact that he has just as good a chance of enging up a closer as a starter, that's a heck of a lot of money for a relief pitcher.

I was wondering why Crow slipped so far on draft day. Now I know. The top pick Tim Beckham signed for just 6.15MM. Crow is the 8th pick and he wants 8-10MM. Especially if he might end up as a closer. 8-10MM is what an elite closer gets, not what a closer prospect gets. If he wants this much, the Nats should pass.

Wow... I mean...wow. Crow is taking the game to a whole new level. I posted last week that I thought Kasten was a straight shooter and that I thought Crow was the most likely pick (other than maybe Dykstra) to go unsigned, but I still felt fairly confident that it was all part of the negotiating strategy...and that he'd eventually sign. Now...?

Crow's demands were crazy and the whole thing with kids asking for big league contracts is silly and counter-effective in terms of their growth and development. If they're so good, they'll make the bigs and their bones in due time. Why screw your new team on the 40 man slot for the league minimum when you're already getting the big bonus?

This is a lose-lose situation across the board. Crow is putting himself in danger of becoming Wade Townsend Jr. while simultaneously screwing himself out of any leverage next year. Does he think someone is going to offer an exorbitant contract next year, after he's torn up the Indy League...and proven himself a preening tool a year removed from any real competition and a year behind in his development, as well as a year older? Does he think it serves him well to jump back into a draft that, next year, looks to be loaded with pitching talent?

Not that it's any better for the Nats, who lose a potential frontline pitching prospect but gain a chance to be shaken down by their #9 overall pick next year (since, if they don't sign HIM, they lose the pick altogether). They're in the pole position for Strasburg, who is going to cost a TON. Now they'll have a second pick fleecing them. Good strategy.

On the plus side, it seems to have finally got the Matusz talks going!!!

On the plus side, it seems to have finally got the Matusz talks going!!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It sure did, and if Matusz signs for what is rumored ($3.1), the Nats have Crow over a barrel.

not that Boras has this client butt MANY rookies are under Scott Boras who demands an incredible amount of money so he gets some of the cut, Many teams like my whitesox have a very bad history with this guy which is why Joe Crede wont be coming back next year.

as for crow i saw this kid pitch in college and is pretty promising with him being on the nats i cant blame the kid for wanting a ML deal

Here are some facts:

1. The 2 elite pitching prospects this past draft were Matusz and Crow in that order.

2. Matusz goes at #4 overall and signs for 3.2M.

3. Crow goes at #9 overall and was demanding 8M but came down to 4M. The Nats came up to 3.3M.

Who has the best grades here? Matusz? Os? Nats? Crow? Very interesting.

Base- what are you saying? Who has the best grades? I'm not sure what you're getting at.

Anyway, horrible miscue on the Nats'- and Crow's- part if it did, in fact, come down to 700K. Matusz's deal was finalized with enough time left for Crow and his team to save face and still sign. The Nats' offer would've done just that; Crow's final demand (if true) would've given the Nats a victory and a top power pitching prospect. By refusing to blink, both sides screwed themselves.

On the other hand, the 2009 draft just got a little more interesting!

The Nationals are the second worst run team in the MLB. (The Astros take the #1 spot easily) They still have only a mediocre farm system, and all we were hearing in this past offseason is how they had a lot of money to burn and how they were going after Torrie Hunter and Aaron Rowand. And now, with such a small payroll, they won't give 4MM to a top pitching prospect. The Nats are stupid, and Jim Bowden is the worst GM inthe game. He trades Rauch for a mediocre 2B prospect, then signs Christian Guzman to a 2 year extension, the Nats don't have a chance at competing next year, and probably not in '10. That was wasting the money they could've used on Crow. And they don't sign Crow. Also, I doubt Crow will get 3.3MM in '10. With all that talent in next years draft, and for the reasons milehigh stated.

Just to clarify a question someone asked earlier about major league contracts. The biggest perk that comes with a major league contract is becoming vested in the players union's retiement plan.

It is a big deal, especially for pitchers, because if the player gets hurt during their rise to the major leagues, they would then have some financial support from the union. They dont demand the major league contract to try to speed up their development or screw the teams over. Since pitchers always have a high injury risk, they deand major league contracts more than position players.