The Potential Impact of the Strasburg Signing on the Nationals

Can this man save a franchise? At 11:58 and 43 seconds, according to Washington Nationals team president Stan Kasten, baseball’s worst team this season and highly-touted, Scott Boras-managed pitcher Stephen Strasburg were finally able to reach a deal for a record $15.1 million signing bonus. There is no doubt that the signing of Strasburg was an absolute must for the struggling D.C. franchise, but now both the Nats and their young phenom with the alleged 102-mph fastball have to succeed. There are two very ominous precedents for a deal like this one that immediately come to mind. In 1991, the New York Yankees drafted Brien Taylor with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and signed him to a then-record $1.55 million signing bonus. Taylor was a can’t-miss prospect with electric, future ace stuff and his advisor Scott Boras made a deal that turned out to be one of the worst investments in Yankee history. After posting a 2.57 ERA at Single-A Fort Lauderd...