The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[url=http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/08/the-strasburg-watch-day-12.html]The Strasburg Watch: Day 12 - DC Pro Sports Report[/url]

Our daily countdown is well underway.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

I agree...they knew it was going to take eye popping numbers to get him so they need to pony up. They look cheap AND stupid if they don't. If they didn't want to pay up then they should have drafted someone else. Then they'd only look cheap. Although the numbers Boars is looking is ridiculous beyond belief.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

they knew all of this when they drafted him. just sign him, and start him tomorrow

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

He'd be the best Nats closer if they brought him up today.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=Buster;573170]He'd be the best Nats closer if they brought him up today.[/quote]

He's probably the #2 if they bring him up today.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

Nats won again. How much would it blow if they fail to sign Strasburg and they win just enough games to finish with the 2nd worst record behind KC and lose out on Bryce Harper.
But then again, there'd be a chance that KC would take Strasburg 1st overall next season and the Nats would be free to take Harper 2nd, and then they could start this whole "will they be able to sign him?" thing for a 3rd year in a row.

My head just exploded. :(

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=FRPLG;572910]I agree...they knew it was going to take eye popping numbers to get him so they need to pony up. They look cheap AND stupid if they don't. [B]If they didn't want to pay up then they should have drafted someone else[/B]. Then they'd only look cheap. Although the numbers Boars is looking is ridiculous beyond belief.[/quote]

In 2007, the Pirates passed on Boras client Matt Wieters in order to avoid paying up, and ended up with Danny Moskos, a pick that was universally panned (Moskos is playing marginally well in Double AA while Wieters has already made it to the bigs). In order to avoid making the same mistake, the Bucs picked Boras client Pedro Alvarez in 2008, who waited, and waited, just as Strasburg is, and finally signed at midnight of the signing deadline. But even after he signed, Boras tried to claim that the sighing occurred after midnight and was therefore void (although it was ultimately resolved).

Meaning, when you're dealing with Boras, at least in terms of MLB prospects, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=BringBackJoeT;573259]In 2007, the Pirates passed on Boras client Matt Wieters in order to avoid paying up, and ended up with Danny Moskos, a pick that was universally panned (Moskos is playing marginally well in Double AA while Wieters has already made it to the bigs). In order to avoid making the same mistake, the Bucs picked Boras client Pedro Alvarez in 2008, who waited, and waited, just as Strasburg is, and finally signed at midnight of the signing deadline. But even after he signed, Boras tried to claim that the sighing occurred after midnight and was therefore void (although it was ultimately resolved).

Meaning, when you're dealing with Boras, at least in terms of MLB prospects, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.[/quote]Didn't Wieters also end up signing at the last minute with the O's?

And also, I think it they offer him something crazy, like say a $20 million signing bonus, which is nearly double the record, and he still doesn't sign the Nats don't end up looking cheap. Boras and SS will look greedy and foolish.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=FRPLG;573201]He's probably the #2 if they bring him up today.[/quote]
i would think he would be their best pitcher right now. who would you think is better?

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=dmek25;573386]i would think he would be their best pitcher right now. who would you think is better?[/quote]

Lannan is their #1. Strasburg obviously is more talented but they're not gonna bring him in and make him the ace straight away. Nor should they. In fact it sounded like when they drafted him they weren't convinced he was Majors ready. Not that much of their staff is anyways.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=FRPLG;573428]Lannan is their #1. Strasburg obviously is more talented but they're not gonna bring him in and make him the ace straight away. Nor should they. In fact it sounded like when they drafted him they weren't convinced he was Majors ready. Not that much of their staff is anyways.[/quote]Tony Gwynn didn't really think to think so either, but he could've been trying to protect him in a way.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

Tick tick tick....my guess is they get it done. The Nats need to get it done but i'd respect them if they made a good offer to SS even if he turned it down.

The Nats don't need to give this guy 50 million. Make him the highest paid draft pick and if he doesn't bite let him play in the independant league for a year or over in Japan. If he doesn't bite he's an idiot.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

I feel like I'm waiting on the results of a paternity test.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

For some reason, I don't see this happening...which is dumb on the Nats part, as they should have taken someone else if they weren't willing to give this guy the Moon...

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;576732]For some reason, I don't see this happening...which is dumb on the Nats part, as they should have taken someone else if they weren't willing to give this guy the Moon...[/quote]If they offered him, say, $21 million, which is double the previous record deal, and he passed saying that he wanted double that amount I can't blame the Nats. Yes, they knew it would probably take a record deal to land him, and it appears that they're willing to give him one but at a point it just becomes greed on the part of Strasburg and Boras.

Likewise, if Boras is really trying to use this situation to blow up the whole slotting process they Nats would be utterly screwing themselves in the long run for so many reasons. As of now they still have the worst record and a shot at getting the top pick next year (although they've been playing great ball so that could change) and Boras could again try to set a record for a position/power player like Bryce Harper. That would make two years in a row (3 in a row really) where the Nats would have to decide if taking the best player available is worth the risk of not signing him. Either way that's the case, but if they give into Boras's demands that's just another chip that he'll have in next year's negotiations.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;576732]For some reason, I don't see this happening...which is dumb on the Nats part, as they should have taken someone else if they weren't willing to give this guy the Moon...[/quote]

Haven't they offered the moon? (Do they need to offer Jupiter too?)

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

Just heard on 980 that apparently the record offer they made was around $12 million. If that's the case I'll be pissed at the Nats.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

We'll know if we get Strasburg in a little less than 4 hours.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

I heard the most recent offer was 17M

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Stupid need for sleep. There's a good chance I end up back here sometime around 1.

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Well, it's midnight. No deal.

Gammons said they could extend negotiations into the wee hours of the morning, so if anyone is staying up just to see if he's signed, don't hold your breath.

IMO they need to pay him whatever and get it over with.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

I'm reading through the comments section of the Nats Journal on The Posts website and people are saying that the MLB network is reporting a $15mill contract.

Scotty Van P. just said they signed him as they signed off Sports Center!

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

Just heard it on SportsCenter- Signs for $15.7

No link yet

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

15.67 Million for 4 years. The Lerners did well. Finally.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=Redskins_P;576855]15.67 Million for 4 years. The Lerners did well. Finally.[/quote]

If it was only 4 or 5 million separating a deal and a standoff, the Lerners needed to go ahead and just cave and pay. The fallout for not signing him would have been much worse than just coughing up the few extra mil.

I'm not going to tip my hat to the Lerners for doing what was absolutely mandatory for the Nationals organization.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

If it's 4 years, I think it's more than $15.67M. ESPN's bottom line just said that the deal has a signing bonus of at least $15M. That being the case, I think the total contract value would have to be larger than the $15.67 reported.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=GMScud;576857]If it's 4 years, I think it's more than $15.67M. ESPN's bottom line just said that the deal has a signing bonus of at least $15M. That being the case, I think the total contract value would have to be larger than the $15.67 reported.[/quote]

I thought his bonus was like 7 mil. That's what I saw on ESPNEWS. Either way gj Nats for not f'ing this up and costing us what should be one of our main centerpieces for god knows how long.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

So I was wrong...but it was sketchy to say the least to have the contract signed at 11:58p last night.

Here is how it breaks down:
4 years, $15.1 million

Signing Bonus of $7.5 million
2009: $400,000, prorated for the rest of the season ($100,000)
2010: $2 million
2011: $2.5 million
2012: $3 million

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

good job nats for doing the absolute minimum you have to do as a MLB organization (as said above).

unlike football 1st round rookies in the NFL who get paid bucks and start/contribute right away, baseball pays their 1st round rookies pennies b/c half or less of them will see the majors in 2-3 years. i think we you have a legit talent who will be playing in the bigs after a year or two (like weiters n strasburg) you have to pay them alil more.

markakis got a small rookie contract, played well for a year n half, then was hitting .300 with good power in the majors making less than 200k. the Os did the right thing and resigned him but could you imagine being a nick markakis, top 30 player in the bigs and making 200k while far worse players (mora) is making close to 8 mil?

in the case of the strasburgs and weiters (top end talent over 20 yrs old) you pay them more than you would an 18 yr old high school player b/c they are going to be playing the majors alot sooner.

go job nats!

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=over the mountain;577018]good job nats for doing the absolute minimum you have to do as a MLB organization (as said above).

unlike football 1st round rookies in the NFL who get paid bucks and start/contribute right away, baseball pays their 1st round rookies pennies b/c half or less of them will see the majors in 2-3 years. i think we you have a legit talent who will be playing in the bigs after a year or two (like weiters n strasburg) you have to pay them alil more.

[B]markakis got a small rookie contract, played well for a year n half, then was hitting .300 with good power in the majors making less than 200k. the Os did the right thing and resigned him but could you imagine being a nick markakis, top 30 player in the bigs and making 200k while far worse players (mora) is making close to 8 mil?[/B]

in the case of the strasburgs and weiters (top end talent over 20 yrs old) you pay them more than you would an 18 yr old high school player b/c they are going to be playing the majors alot sooner.

go job nats![/quote]

That's baseball, though. It's not the same thing as football. Teams don't have to pay for performance early because they control players for longer. Once a guy gets called up, he's under your control for 6 years. The last 2 of those he gets arbitration, the other 4, the guy takes what the team offers.

Just a couple of years ago, when Prince was the youngest player to ever hit 50 jacks, he got paid $650,000, it was just this January that he finally got paid and that's only a 2 year contract.

Baseball players have longer careers and make far more money than football players if they're good. While I agree with the general point that if you draft premium talent, you have to pay for premium talent, that's not really the case if you take a guy pretty much where he should go in the draft.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

Congrats Nats. Please catch the Royals in the standings. Please.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

[quote=jdlea;577020]While I agree with the general point that if you draft premium talent, you have to pay for premium talent, that's not really the case if you take a guy pretty much where he should go in the draft.[/quote]

yeah i hear ya. just seems to me nowadays that teams should pay more for the 20 something coming out of college top 10 draft picks who are going to be in the bigs in 2 years vs the 18 yr old high school player taken top 10 who is going to spend 4 years developing and growing in the farm club.

Re: The Strasburg Watch: Day 12
 

I was always afraid that Strasburg wouldn't even want to play for the Nats, so I'm glad they signed him. And the way that Storen is developing, they might not need to look for a closer. McDougal has been great so far. Bergmann lost the game last night.