Tigers having problem signing Maybin?

[RockSports17]

It's true. Read:

BY JOHN LOWE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

BOSTON -- Negotiations with first-round pick Cameron Maybin have broken off, Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said Friday night.

The Tigers have until a week before next June's draft to sign Maybin, a prep centerfielder from North Carolina. However, if Maybin attends a junior college this fall and next spring, the Tigers won't be able to negotiate with him until baseball season at the school ends next spring.

"Our door is not closed," Dombrowski said. "We love the player. We haven't agreed on financial parameters."

Brian Goldberg, Maybin's advisor, said "we haven't closed the door, either."

Said Goldberg: "Depending on whether Cameron wants to go to school in the short term or if he were to wait, we would definitely consider continuing dialogue. It has always been his desire to come to an agreement and play for the Tigers."

Goldberg said Tuesday that negotiations had stalled because the Tigers had withdrawn their last two offers. Goldberg said Monday that Tigers vice president and club attorney John Westhoff told him that owner Mike Ilitch wouldn't authorize the club's $2.75-million offer a few weeks earlier or a $3-million offer last weekend.

"Somehow this thing has got put up where this has gone to ownership and they have squelched it," Dombrowski said. "That never happened."

Dombrowski was asked if he was denying that Westhoff told Goldberg anything about going to Ilitch.

"I'm not going to go into tit-for-tat what was said," Dombrowski said.

Dombrowski didn't specifically deny either offer mentioned by Goldberg. In a phone interview Friday night, Goldberg said he stood by the figures of both offers.

Last fall, the Tigers withdrew their offer to No. 1 pick Justin Verlander, then signed the right-hander a week later.

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I doubt Dombrowski will let financials get in the way of signing this kid. It's just a wait and see. Domb. is a smart guy and he'll figure out how to sign this kid.

[Fishercat]

Wasting a high first rounder is killer in any draft, including the baseball one. Considering the low rate of success (considering that every year, up to 1500 players can be drafted for a league that houses 750 on the highest level) of players, getting those guys with a decent shot is vital to having a good farm system. Of course, it depends on if you trade them away or get the right guys.

[RockSports17]

Dombrowski has done a great job so far in the draft and landing some decent prospects. IE: Justin Verlander.