But a major league contract is something we could talk about. When the Padres signed Nady last September, the third baseman had the alternative of returning to Cal for his senior season. Harrington was a high school senior last year when the Rockies made him the seventh pick overall in the draft. He now pitches in the independent Northern League and is ineligible to play college baseball. He can either sign with the Padres or continue to pitch in the Northern League until next June's draft.
Time is on our side.
If we reach an agreement, Matt will be ready to move into a rotation somewhere. On Tuesday, Towers said that rotation might even be the Padres' high-Class A affiliate at Lake Elsinore. Harrington is a native of Palmdale. Minn. Even Tanzer admits the cold weather does not suit his client. That's something I have to learn to live with.