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Nationals outfielder Ryan Church (right) may ride the |
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.
He emerged out of nowhere as a first-round talent during his senior season, hitting 95 mph with his fastball, and he admitted the whirlwind of agents, teams and media caught him off-guard.
"It all came so quickly, I didn't have a lot of time to really think everything through and get the pros and cons of college and pro ball down," Black said in an early-August interview. "It was definitely overwhelming."
Home cookin'The Nationals will open next season at home for the first time since baseball returned to Washington, playing the Florida Marlins, according to published reports.
As a franchise, the Nationals haven't begun the year at home since 2002 against the Marlins. Washington started this season in New York and played 18 of its first 27 games on the road, going 9-18.
"We saw what happened this year when we started the season on the road for a long time," second baseman Jose Vidro said. "It was kind of hard. I think to start the season here at home is good."
Church to benchThe Nationals have already seen plenty of Ryan Church, so newly acquired Nook Logan is expected get the bulk of playing time in center field until the end of the season.
"We all have a feel for what [Church] is capable of doing and what he's done," manager Frank Robinson said. "The jury is still out on him because of the lack of consistency, and we probably have a decision to make on him this winter and all of us feel like we've seen enough to make a pretty good sound decision on him one way or the other."
The organization doesn't know as much about Logan.
Logan, a speedy defensive specialist not known for his bat, was acquired from the Detroit Tigers Friday and has started three straight games in center field. He has reached base in each game.
Church, 27, is hitting .255 with eight homers and 27 RBIs in three separate stints with the Nationals this year and he recently said he'd be "playing for next year" over the final month of the season.
"I'll be ready. That's all I can say," Church said. "If they call on me I'll be ready. I don't know their plans. I am just sitting here waiting."
To reach TODD JACOBSON:
Email: tjacobson@freelancestar.com
