With their perspiration running at the same pace as a rapidly expiring midnight deadline, the Tigers apparently made good late Monday on signing their top draft pick, Nick Castellanos, as well as two prized college pitchers.

The contract is for a record $3.45 million and is the most money ever paid to a draft pick not selected in the first round. But the deal is contingent on Commissioner Bud Selig’s office verifying that an agreement was reached by midnight. No final word had been granted as of 12:30 a.m.

It raised the specter, however remote,of avoided deal that would be viewed as catastrophic by the Tigers.

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