Aaron Crow’s agent, Randy Hendricks, tried to sucker punch the Nationals by saying they were the only team not to sign their first-round pick. The Nats countered with this thought: Hendricks is the only agent not to have his pick signed.
Regardless, the Nats lose. They felt Crow was a top-of-the line pitcher. Now he might haunt them for 15 years. They get the 10th overall pick next June as compensation, to go along with an expected top-three pick based on their record this season.
They might get lucky and land the clear-cut top pick in June: San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg. But, uh-oh, he’s represented by Scott Boras, whom Nats president Stan Kasten isn’t fond of. The real key is what happens with the 10th pick; maybe they’ll find a position player with star potential — they need that, too.
Can they afford both picks?
“Yes,” GM Jim Bowden told reporters Saturday.
Doesn’t matter who you blame in this mess. The Nats could feel the blow from this debacle for many years.
