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Across the Affiliates 08/14/08 »

Aaron Crow Signs with Fort Worth Cats


Very interesting development, Nationals first round draft pick RHP Aaron Crow has tentatively signed with the Independent League Fort Worth Cats. The deal is contingent on Crow not signing with the Nationals by midnight on Friday.

My take? More posturing.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008, 9:46 PM and is filed under Draft. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

  1. #1 by Steven - August 13th, 2008 at 22:03

    Ballsy move. I’m starting to like this kid. I hope he has this much moxie pitching in the WS for us some day.

  2. #2 by Dick - August 13th, 2008 at 22:16

    Well, that’s an interesting twist! That makes him a professional now, doesn’t it? That means he can no longer go back to Missouri, right? So what rules does that mean for signing him? Does he become a free agent at midnight Friday?

    Brian, these are hypothetical questions and I certainly don’t expect you to have the answers!

  3. #3 by SlowPitch63 - August 13th, 2008 at 22:22

    Curiouser and curiouser.

    Let’s play two!

  4. #4 by mike - August 13th, 2008 at 22:26

    The Nats would still have his rights until next draft. Luke Hochevar did the same thing after being picked 40th in 2005, and then ended up going number one overall in 06.

  5. #5 by mike - August 13th, 2008 at 22:28

    Er, well, they wouldn’t have his rights, but he couldn’t sign with someone else.

  6. #6 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 22:29

    There was no way he is going back to Missouri. He would be screwing over Kyle Gibson if nothing else, plus I think he was actually hurt his status by playing there. That’s a hitter’s park and they had a bad defense.

    I don’t think people realize how good he is. IMO, he’d have been the #1 overall pick if he’d been in a better situation for a pitcher. If this is real, he’ll likely raise his draft status assuming FT. Worth is a better place for a pitcher. I expect him to be a top 3-5 pick in the next draft if healthy.

    I hope the Nats will use the money saved to sign guys like Silverstein and/or Ramirez. Yorman Rodriguez is supposed to be a big time IFA.

    One way to spin it would be something like: Ramirez+Yorman+9B > Crow.

  7. #7 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 22:35

    For those still up, USA and the Neatherlands are playing and it’s Strasburg vs. Martis

  8. #8 by Paul - August 13th, 2008 at 22:36

    FYI- Shairon Martis is pitching for the Netherlands against the US team right now. You can watch live on nbcolympics.com

  9. #9 by Paul - August 13th, 2008 at 22:37

    Hah- you beat me to it John…glad someone else is watching this.

  10. #10 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 22:39

    Martis dominates in the first. No radar, but he’s throwing serious heat. 1-2-3 inning.

  11. #11 by Nationals Enquirer - August 13th, 2008 at 22:44

    There are some interesting comments just now by Randy Hendricks in Fort Worth Star Telegram (linked up over here), including stuff like this: “We wouldn’t have had him sign with the Cats if we thought he was going to sign with the Nationals…The last I talked with Jim Bowden, he didn’t think there was anything more to talk about. I didn’t disagree.”

    His camp has been fairly quiet the entire time — I can’t remember reading anything from them at all. So, take all this stuff at face value, or is it just more of the same… posturing?

  12. #12 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 22:44

    Strasburg finishes the first two hitters with curveballs. He’s not known for his curve, but both were wicked.

  13. #13 by Paul - August 13th, 2008 at 22:46

    Wow…Strasburg is impressive- strikes out the side. This is going to be fun to watch.

  14. #14 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 22:46

    Strasburg Ks the side.

    Screw Crow. Let’s get a bat at 9B :)

  15. #15 by Fake Jim Bowden - August 13th, 2008 at 22:47

    You really think we’re going to pay Strasburg what he’s asking for?

  16. #16 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 22:49

    Yes. This guy’s a once in a lifetime talent.

  17. #17 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 22:54

    Martis gives up a solo HR, but then retires the side. He has 4 Ks through 2.

    1-0 USA.

  18. #18 by Paul - August 13th, 2008 at 22:59

    The Dutch are pretty overwhelmed by Strasburg so far. Martis looks good with a nice mix of fastball and offspeed- the homer was crushed though.

  19. #19 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 22:59

    Strasburg mows down the side 1-2-3. 2 Ks. He has 5 Ks through 2. The other out was a grounder to second.

  20. #20 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 23:00

    What’s scary is Strasburg’s slider doesn’t look as sharp as I’ve seen.

    Both pitchers are impressive so far.

  21. #21 by Paul - August 13th, 2008 at 23:06

    This is the first time I’ve seen Strasburg pitch (besides Youtube clips) and he does look very smooth for someone who throws that hard.

    You think the Dutch would trade Martis for Mike Stanton?

  22. #22 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 23:08

    Martis gives up a single, but retires the side. Another K 5 total. We also had our first flyout of the game. Both pitchers are awesome so far.

  23. #23 by Steven - August 13th, 2008 at 23:08

    One of the little text comments was that the Dutch lineup is really weakened by the absence of… wait for it… Rogearvin Bernardina.

    Still, Strasburg looks like a man among boys.

  24. #24 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 23:13

    Strasburg goes 1-2-3 in the third with another K. Nothing has left the infield.

  25. #25 by Steven - August 13th, 2008 at 23:14

    Did you see Danny Rombley (former Expos farmhand) fall down fouling off a Strasburg pitch? Those guys don’t have a chance.

  26. #26 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 23:15

    Martis throwing 91-93 and Strasburg throwing 91-95 according to the gun and my conversions:)

  27. #27 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 23:16

    Steven: He’s a beast. Like you said, a man among boys.

  28. #28 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 23:29

    Martis gives up a 3-run shot to Matt Laporta after a long battle. Martis seems to be tiring. I wonder if he might not be better in the pen as he seems to have a max effort delivery.

  29. #29 by Steven - August 13th, 2008 at 23:30

    The Wowin’ Curacaoan has suddenly transformed into the Flailing Dutchman.

  30. #30 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 23:33

    USA doing a great job of fouling off pitches and making this a long, stressful inning.

  31. #31 by John - August 13th, 2008 at 23:44

    Dream matchup for me would be Strasburg vs. Yu Darvish(22 year old phenom) of Japan.

  32. #32 by Andrew S. - August 14th, 2008 at 03:40

    Wow, for sure!

  33. #33 by Marcus - August 14th, 2008 at 09:51

    As far as Crow goes. Does this mean that we have his rights until next years draft?

  34. #34 by Brian Oliver - August 14th, 2008 at 09:55

    Marcus – Good question. I believe the answer is his rights are gone on August 16th (if he hasn’t signed). I am asking around to see if I can get that confirmed.

  35. #35 by RD - August 14th, 2008 at 11:09

    We lost rights to Crow once the deadline passes, but he is not able to sign with another team. He re-enters the draft next year.

    Im beginning to think this isn’t going to be the Nationals fault if we dont get him signed.

    We have paid above slot for our first 5 picks in the draft. We went well above slot last year for guys. We will pay, and overpay, for our draft picks.

    Crow seems to have unreasonable demands. Either because he doesn’t want to play here or his agent is an idiot. The stuff about him refusing to come to Washington and tour the facilities and field is ridiculous. He’s got issues and if he doesn’t sign, then it’s not the organizations fault. He wants to be paid as the highest paid player in the draft, by far, and thats unbelievable. He wasn’t the best player in the draft, wasn’t the first pitcher selected, and shouldn’t be paid as such.

    Save the money and give Strasburg what he wants.

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