Can the Washington Nationals afford to draft Bryce Harper with the first pick in Monday’s Major League Baseball First-Year Entry Draft?
More importantly, can they afford not to?
Harper is seemingly the unanimous best player in the draft by as far as his 570-foot homer in high school. The catcher/outfielder may be the best hitting prospect in a decade.
But there are two warning signs. Harper is 17 years old and reportedly wants a bigger deal than Stephen Strasburg’s record $15.67 million bonus by Washington last year. Harper at least will get the biggest bonus for a position player since Mark Teixeira’s $9.5 million in 1991.
That’s a lot of cash for the Nats, and it surely will come from higher ticket, concession and parking prices. Translation — your hot dog goes up a dollar.
Harper is enticing for many reasons, not just his phenomenal numbers. He can hit. He can run. He even throws 96 mph. But Harper should be finishing his junior year of high school, and taking someone this young is a much bigger gamble. There’s a lot of carping about his immaturity, but sans any police reports that’s just haters talking.
The key is Harper’s probably a few years away from contributing — if he does. Then again, the kid has freakish talent that may have him in the majors next season.
The money part is the Lerner family’s problem, but they’ll pass it along. Fans supported the worst team in baseball the past two years, so what’s a couple more bucks to watch a contender?
Still, maybe the Nats want another pitcher. That’s how Nats president Stan Kasten created Atlanta’s dynasty. Prep star Jameson Taillon and Ole Miss lefty Drew Pomeranz will go in the top five.
The Nats invested two first-round picks in college pitchers last season. Strasburg will make his debut Tuesday, while reliever Drew Storen has a 1.93 ERA in 10 appearances. The Nats are two more starters away from playoff contention, and Pomeranz could be a factor quickly.
Still, No. 1 overall selections need to be mythical characters, and Pomeranz doesn’t carry anywhere near the buzz of Strasburg. That’s why the Nats prefer a position player.
If not Harper, maybe Washington considers South Florida prep shortstop Manny Machado, an A-Rod clone expected to go in the top five. An opponent intentionally walked Machado with the bases loaded for fear of his .625 average. The Nats probably could find room for him in the lineup a few years from now. That said, it also would be a few million dollars less of a gamble.
Ultimately, the Nats probably will choose Harper. It’s not a no-brainer pick but makes sense after a long look.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
