Signing Strasburg

My Washington Nationals drafted the greatest pitching prospect ever, Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State. His agent, Scott Boras, is rumored to be asking for a $50 million contract, or more than Washington franchise player Ryan Zimmerman is making, for a pitcher that has never played in the MLB. Here are the 5 things I suggest the Nats do with Mr. Strasburg:

1.) SIGN HIM! Details on the contract next, but you have to sign him if you are the Nats. You failed to sign Aaron Crow last year, and you have a reputation of being cheap. Sure, you offered Tex $200 million, but he didn't take it. You showed your fans you are willing to spend, so do it. Even if it means $50 million.

2.) Here is how I think the contract should work. $50 million guaranteed is too much to ask for if you are Boras. The record is Mark Prior's $10.5 million. I say double it. Offer him a 3-year $21 million contract with 3 years of arbitration. No college kid will pass that up. Who can leave $7 million on the table? If he does really well, those arbitration years will provide him with even more money, or the chance to negotiate a huge second contract. Furthermore, add in incentives. If, in a given season, he leads the Nationals in wins, he gets an extra million. If he wins 20, give him an extra $5 million. If he wins the Cy Young, an extra $10 million. That way, if he lives up to the hype, he will be making much more than what Boras is asking for. If he flames out after a few years like Prior, the Nats aren't stuck with an unmovable contract. It works best for both parties.

3.) Do not bring him straight into the majors, but don't leave him in the minors. If he goes 3-0 in AA, bring him up. If he doesn't, let him come up in September when the roster gets bigger. When he is up in Washington, use him out of the bullpen. See what kind of stuff this kid has at the major league level. Tampa Bay has done it this way with David Price, the Yankees with Joba Chamberlin. We have to as well.

4.) Once he signs, MARKET THE HELL OUT OF HIM! He will put fans in the seats. Get his face out there. Put it in the subways, on TV, in the paper. Put him between Zimmerman and Dunn in a publicity shot.

5.) Watch his arm and his pitch count. ESPN's Steve Phillips is worried about his delivery, says it is a little too much like Prior and not enough like Verlander. If you can't fix it, keep the kid on a pitch count till he can handle the Major League schedule.

There you go Nats. Get it done.