The Washington Nationals secured an ace pitcher and general manager in one night.
The Nats survived a stare down with super agent Scott Boras, inking a $15.1 million deal for pitcher Stephen Strasburg with 77 seconds remaining before Monday’s deadline to sign draft picks. Washington now has the consensus best pitching prospect in a generation and a GM candidate that didn’t wilt against the game’s top negotiator.
Boras has been talking crazy since the June 9 draft, demanding $50 million or Strasburg would play in Japan or re-enter the draft in 2010. Given the record deal for a draftee was Mark Prior’s $10.5 million deal in 2001, Boras’ near five-fold demand was laughable.
Still, Boras knew the Nats didn’t want the PR nightmare of not signing their top pick for the second straight year. Not with an expected 20 percent attendance decline for baseball’s worst team that has already seen its manager and GM depart.
Washington interim GM Mike Rizzo saw his job being threatened. Lose Strasburg and Rizzo becomes the easy scapegoat and is not retained. Instead, he helped finesse the game’s top agent into a deal both could celebrate. Strasburg gets the record contract and Washington gains a potential franchise player for a reasonable price given the hype. The Nats could recoup the $7.5 million bonus through increased attendance with a season of starts.
Indeed, Washington spent a major-league record $11.87 million on 10 draft picks this year to ease the cheapskate reputation of the Nats owners. The Lerners have shown a willingness over the last seven months to target stars.
The deal leaves a now-and-later legacy. The Nats should make Rizzo their permanent GM before competitors seek him. Rizzo has proven more than a talent evaluator. Now that he landed a banner rookie class so desperately needed by a minor league system lacking in talent, the Nats have no reason not to end the interim tag. Otherwise, suitors will come around in October and at best, Washington would need to pay Rizzo more to stay.
Meanwhile, Strasburg won’t pitch until the Arizona Fall League and probably not appear at Nationals Park until May. It’s tempting to throw him in the final week. Make a couple starts, fill up those seats for meaningless games, give fans a reason to buy season tickets over the winter. But, it’s not worth the risk given Strasburg hasn’t pitched for a few months.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
