With the MLB Draft Signing Deadline fast approaching, I thought it was worth sharing a few viewpoints on the Nats and Stephen Strasburg. Obviously, Washington is in an unenviable situation, especially considering that they were unable to sign their first round selection last season, Aaron Crow.
Jason Stark writes that there are numerous factors weighing on super-agent Scott Boras' mind as the deadline approaches. Chief among them:
At first blush, the money that Scott Boras is asking for seems outlandish. It is an unprecedented sum for a heretofore amateur player, but the talent level of Strasburg outpaces that of any other college or high school player drafted as well. Is he good enough to skip the minors completely and land a spot in the Nationals' starting rotation? Based on the analysis of scouts, I would have to think that not only is he already good enough to start in the majors, but he would be able to slot in as a number 1 or 2 starter on most any major league club.
I'm no scout, and have no experience as such, but when someone in the knows says he has two "plus-plus" pitches, then that is more than enough to merit his being on a major league pitching staff. Scouts rate pitchers and hitters using a 20-80 scale, with 80 being outstanding. The fact that he his plus-plus pitches are his fastball and curveball make his an especially lethal combination.
As with any prospect, there are risks associated with Stephen Strasburg. Some take issue with his mechanics, arguing that down the line his velocity will decrease and his chance of injury will rise. Drawing comparisons to Mark Prior is definitely a double edged sword for Strasburg as well.
Ultimately, the man has struck out 23 batters in a D1 college baseball game. Physically and repertoire-wise he appears ready to be a major league pitcher. With the crazy dollar amounts spent on middling major league arms in the past few seasons (Carlos Silva, I'm looking at you), $30 million for Stephen Strasburg for four years or so appears to be a relative bargain. While Scott Boras is holding the Nationals franchise hostage, the team must weigh financial considerations with potentially losing a great many of their supporters.
0 recs | 3 comments
While I appluad the Nationals for sticking to their guns
Why are you drafting someone who is clearly asking for money way above what you plan on paying?
Timothy De Block - August 15, 2009
I would think that a compromise on the order of $15 million would be reasonable. I don’t know if the Nationals intend to go that high or if Boras will accept it. But that seemed to be in the range of outcomes that most people felt would be likely at the time of the draft.
From what I have read, from reports about MLB scouts’ comments, most of them seem to think that he could go directly to the major league roster if the Nationals are content to use him as a reliever. Others say that he could immediately become a No. 4 or 5 starter. I would think that using him as a reliever, just so that you can show your fan base that he is major league ready, is a bad and wasteful idea. If he is signed, the prudent thing to do is probably assign him to AA and then hope that he is so successful that he can be called up to the majors sometime during the season. Since you mentioned Mark Prior, keep in mind that there is a line of thought that Prior’s injury problems arose in part because he didn’t get the necessary time in the minor leagues to prepare for a major league work load. I don’t know if that contention is valid or not. But if a team is going to invest that much money in an amateur athlete, they probably ought to figure out whether they should take that into account.
clack - August 15, 2009
well considering the Peavy trade
What makes Boras think going to San Diego is going to be any better. Just because he’s a hometown boy isn’t necessarilly gonna put butts in seats and with Peavy gone and about all o their established talent up for sale to the right bidder doesn’t strike me as a place to reap a financial windfall.
piratedan7 - August 15, 2009
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