Nationals outfielder Ryan Church (right) may ride the pine for the rest of this season. NICK WASS/ASSOCIATED PRESS View and ORDER more photos.

Nationals notebook

By TODD JACOBSON

Date published: 9/5/2006

By TODD JACOBSON

WASHINGTON--If the Nationals sign second-round pick Sean Black, it's going to go down to the wire.

Black, the New Jersey high school right-hander taken by the Nationals with the 59th pick in June's First-Year Player Draft, remains unsigned, and Washington will lose the rights to Black if he attends his first class at 11:30 a.m. today at Seton Hall University.

Negotiations with the 18-year-old have been difficult from the start. Black was expecting to be picked higher than the second round, and he initially declared that he would forgo the pros for college.

He's waffled on that decision, but as recently as 10 days ago, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said the sides were "far apart" in negotiations.

That hasn't appeared to change.

"We're still in the talking stages," said Mike Rizzo, the Nationals' vice president for baseball operations. "I don't think there's been a whole lot of movement."

The 59th pick has received an average signing bonus of approximately $600,000 the last three seasons, but Black is seeking a bigger payday--certainly more than third-rounder Stephen King ($750,000 plus a $100,000 tuition stipend).

Of the Nationals top eight picks, Black is the only one not signed.

According to a source, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden, president Stan Kasten and principal owner Mark Lerner met yesterday to discuss negotiations with Black.

Bowden would not comment on the negotiations with Black.

Though Black could cut off negotiations by attending class at Seton Hall today, the window for talks could stretch if Black decides not to go to class.

Justin Maxell, a fourth-rounder out of Maryland last season, negotiated after the first day of class passed and eventually signed in October. Black did not return several phone calls yesterday.

"I kind of want to play baseball and it's getting to the point where we hope we figure something out, but it's definitely going to be a price because school is definitely a great option for me, too," Black said in a phone interview Aug. 22. "It's not going to be easy."

However, Black's feelings about going pro have been mixed from the start.

Date published: 9/5/2006