Draft holdouts Aaron Crow, Tanner Scheppers sign deals

2008 draft holdouts Aaron Crow and Tanner Scheppers are closing in on a deals with the Royals and Rangers, respectively. Crow, who chose not to sign with the Nationals last season, will receive a major league contract somewhere between 3 and 4.5 million dollars, according to ESPN.com. Crow, who pitched for the independent Fort Worth Cats leading up to the draft, compiled a 23-8 record with a 3.33 ERA in 52 games during his collegiate career at Missouri.

Scheppers is another story. Scheppers was drafted with the 48th overall pick last year by the Pirates, but chose not to sign. Scheppers was projected to be a top 15 pick coming into the draft, but a stress fracture hurt his stock. He rehabbed and pitched for the Saint Paul Saints leading up to the draft. It was his third time going through the draft process, so he knew what to expect. Scheppers gave me an exclusive interview leading up to the draft, and said it was all about getting in the right mindset and knowing what to not let phase you as the draft approaches.

Both pitchers will pitch in Instructional Leagues next month.