By John Manuel
September 29, 2004

The Orioles just wanted someone that would be an easy sign. Wade Townsend has turned out to be anything but that.

Major League Baseball denied Townsend on his gamble to attend class at Rice and has informed the Orioles that even though Townsend renounced his college eligibility, his return to class meant the Orioles could no longer negotiate with him.

Matt Gould, MLB’s manager of media relations, said MLB sent the Orioles and Townsend’s agent, Casey Close, a letter informing them of the decision one day after Baseball America disclosed that Townsend had returned to class. MLB rules state that a player’s negotiating window with a club ends when the player attends a class at a four-year college.

Gould said MLB wanted to avoid a situation where the NCAA could re-instate Townsend’s eligibility while he was still negotiating with the Orioles on a contract. MLB has not received any response from Close or Townsend regarding the ruling.

Close acknowledged that MLB has informed the Orioles that their negotiating window is closed, but he said Wednesday the affair is not over, indicating there would be other efforts made to re-open a window of negotiations, possibly through legal action.

“While we’re not surprised with Major League Baseball’s initial reaction,” Close said, “it’s not the end of the road.”

As it stands now, Gould said, Townsend will have to enter the 2005 draft. If that remains the case, Close indicated earlier in the month that Townsend probably would pitch in an independent league to gain professional experience prior to the draft next June.

Townsend, selected ninth overall, wasn’t the Orioles’ first choice. Baltimore wanted to draft Georgia prep shortstop Chris Nelson, but owner Peter Angelos intervened after the draft already had started, insisting that scouting director Tony DeMacio get a deal done that would be at or below the No. 8 draft slot. The time for that had passed, however, and DeMacio and his staff decided to take Townsend, hoping he would be easier to sign than Nelson.

Instead of being an easy sign, though, Townsend rejected a deal similar to that signed by 2003 Orioles first-rounder Nick Markakis ($1.85 million), which is below the slot value (roughly $2.2 million). Townsend also was reported to have a less-than-civil discussion with Orioles officials prior to returning to class as negotiations broke down.

Others (such as Scott Boras clients Jeff Austin, Bobby Hill) have renounced their college eligibility to extend negotiations with clubs in the past. Townsend was the first to do so and subsequently return to classes at his school while trying to still deal with the club that drafted him. But at this point, it appears his attempts to go to class and still negotiate have failed.