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If Cale Iorg doesnt come to terms with the Detroit Tigers in fewer than three weeks, the shortstop from Knoxville is going to play for Arizona State in 2008.

Iorg, youngest son of former Toronto Blue Jays infielder and Knoxville Smokies manager Garth Iorg, was drafted in the sixth round by the Tigers in June but has yet to sign.

Its going to go down to the wire, Garth Iorg said Thursday. I dont know (if we can get a deal done.) I know he worked out for them a couple of times and I know they liked what they saw. Quite frankly its down to a financial issue.

Cale Iorg, the 21-year-old younger brother of former University of Tennessee outfielder Eli Iorg, started at Alabama as a freshman and then took his two-year Mormon mission tour. He will be a sophomore, if he goes back to school, and can be drafted again after his junior and senior years.

Major league teams have until Aug. 15 to sign players or they will become eligible for the 2008 draft.

Major league teams are supposed to slot the first five rounds. They have agreed to pay a certain signing bonus for each round to hold down costs.

After the fifth round, you can do whatever you want, but you have to justify what you pay somebody, said Garth Iorg, who serves as a roving minor league infield instructor for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Sounds a little like collusion.

It does, doesnt it? Garth Iorg said.

An industry source said signing bonuses for sixth-round picks this year are expected to range between $105,000 and $120,000. Fifth-rounders are to receive $120,00-$150,000 offers.

The Hendricks Brothers — Randal and Alan — are serving as advisers for the Iorg family.

Cale, a former Karns High School star, told The Birmingham News his decision to leave the Tide had nothing to do with baseball. It was a matter of faith.

To be honest, Arizona State has a bigger population of people with my religious beliefs, said the 6-foot-2 Iorg Not that Alabama doesnt have good people, but I want to put myself around people that have my standards, my beliefs.

Said Garth Iorg: He explained it better than I could have.

UT wasnt interested in Cale Iorg coming out of high school.

Quite frankly, he was recruited by everybody but UT, Garth Iorg said.

Scuttlebutt was that Cale Iorg would transfer to UT.

He didnt feel right going to another SEC school, Garth Iorg said. Florida wanted him and offered a great scholarship.

Meanwhile, Eli Iorgs season for the Class A Salem Avalanche was cut short because of injury on June 2. The outfielder tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow sliding head-first into first base to avoid being picked off.

He had all his weight on his right arm, and the first baseman tagged him on the outside of that elbow and it bent in, Astros assistant general manager Ricky Bennett told The Houston Chronicle. He was having a real good year. Hes really starting to get comfortable and put together a solid season before this freak thing happened. Its a big blow.

Eli, Houstons first-round pick (38th overall) in 2005, had Tommy John surgery a few weeks ago and his rehabilitation is ahead of schedule. He is expected to make a full recovery by spring training.

He was getting ready to be moved up (to Class AA), Garth Iorg said. But its nothing he cant overcome.

Eli Iorg was hitting .296 in 44 games. He had 17 doubles, four triples, five home run and 24 RBIs.

Hell be better next year, said Garth Iorg,

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.