Aaron Crow signs . . . but not with the Nationals.

This story from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is something to keep an eye on: Fort Worth Cats sign major-league draft pick Aaron Crow.

Aaron Crow, the Nationals’ 2008 first round draft pick, has apparently signed with an independent league team. The deadline for the Nationals to sign him is tomorrow, August 15th. While Crow’s signing with the independent team may just be posturing, it is not promising news. Two other former draft picks have signed with the team in the past in order to improve their draft stock¹. But Crow was drafted with the ninth pick in this year, leaving him little upward movement.

With the state of the Nationals minor league system, not signing their first round draft pick will be a heavy blow. Hopefully Jim Bowden can get this under control. The impasse seems to be over an Major League contract: Crow wants it, Bowden doesn’t. Either way, hopefully the parties can find some middle ground. The Nationals need the pitching help.