It’s been over a year since the Washington Nationals drafted Aaron Crow in 2008 and the still-amateur pitcher remains unsigned by anybody despite having already sat out one-and-a-half seasons.

After the debacle with the Nationals in 2008, Crow re-entered the draft and was selected 12^th overall by the Royals. One might have thought after a yearlong layoff Crow would want to sign and play immediately, however when we last heard from him he had just turned down a $3 million offer from the Royals.

While almost every other player in the draft had to be signed by August 17^th or else they would be forced to enter the draft the following year, Crow was a special case because he pitched in independent ball in 2009 (one game for Fort Worth). As a result, Crow has until the next draft to sign.

Waiting until after all the other first round picks have signed has given Aaron Crow a tremendous advantage. When Crow turned down the $3 million offer before the signing deadline, it came at a time when the majority of first round picks were unsigned. The $3 million offer was based on the value of the previous years contracts.

However, after Stephen Strasburg signed a $15 million deal, and Seattle signed second overall pick to a $7.5 million deal, Aaron Crow has an all-new bargaining position.

Without lifting a finger (or a pen) his price has gone up. By putting the price tag at $15 million on a top of the line, college-pitching prospect that is close to Major League ready, Crow and his team can easily argue that he is at least 1/5^th of the investment that Strasburg is.

It’s a funny world. By opening up their pocket to get Strasburg, the Nationals actually inadvertently helped the player they discarded last year.

Sorry Kansas City. 

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