CINCINNATI | Publicly, neither the Washington Nationals nor Stephen Strasburg’s camp has said much about contract negotiations for the No. 1 pick, which will end with or without a deal at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. But that doesn’t mean things aren’t heating up behind the scenes.
A club source said managing principal owner Ted Lerner, team president Stan Kasten and acting general manager Mike Rizzo flew to California last week to visit with Strasburg.
The 21-year-old, whom many observers have called the best pitching prospect in a generation, would be arguably the highest-profile player the Nationals have landed since moving to the District.
Agent Scott Boras has compared Strasburg to international signings such as Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Japanese pitcher who signed a six-year, $52 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2007. It’s believed he is seeking a deal along those lines for Strasburg. The final price may fall short of $50 million, but the contract is expected to shatter the record of $10.5 million for a draft pick, given to Cubs pitcher Mark Prior in 2001.
“It would be a huge step for the organization. I really don’t want to say too much about it because I know that Mike and Stan and the Lerner family is totally committed to signing the young guy, and we will welcome into the organization,” interim manager Jim Riggleman said Thursday. “[We] can’t wait to have him, but these things get a lot more complicated than those of us in uniform can deal with.”
If the Nationals do not sign Strasburg by the deadline, they would receive the No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft as compensation in addition to their regular selection, which would be the No. 1 pick if the season ended Saturday. Strasburg could return to school, pitch in an independent league or play overseas. He would have to give the Nationals permission to take him again.
On Friday, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman - who signed a day after he was taken fourth in 2005 and received a five-year, $45 million extension this spring - gave Strasburg a subtle nudge to wrap up the process.
“I think it’s important for any franchise that wants to keep moving forward and getting better to sign its top pick, but I guess there are certain limits to how much you can spend,” Zimmerman said. “At some point, he has to say how much money is enough before he even steps out on to the field. He has to start pitching some time.”
Asked if he had seen Strasburg play, Zimmerman said: “I’ve seen him on TV once or twice. He throws hard. He’s got good stuff, but again you have to ask yourself, how much money can you make without ever throwing a pitch?”
Eighth-rounder signs
The Nationals announced they agreed to terms with Roberto Perez, the shortstop they took in the eighth round of June’s draft out of Dorado Academy in Puerto Rico.
Perez, 18, is the nephew of 15-year big league veteran Dickie Thon. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect had committed to Oklahoma State.
Only two players the Nationals took in the first 10 rounds - Strasburg and fifth-rounder Miguel Pena - remain unsigned.
Day off for Dukes
Right fielder Elijah Dukes was out of the lineup Friday for just the second time this month in an effort to keep utility infielder Willie Harris fresh.
Harris has started just 14 times since the Nationals acquired Nyjer Morgan on June 30. Riggleman said he was going to give each outfielder a day off in the near future.
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