Strasburg a Padre? It's Not As Far Fetched As It Seems

The Nationals have yet to sign their first round draft pick, San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg.  Although the two sides have until Aug. 17 to come to an agreement, don't be surprised if Strasburg decides he doesn't want to sign a deal with the team.

Washington Post beat writer Chico Harlan has an article this morning and apparently Strasburg and his agent, Scott Boras, may decide not to sign with the Nationals.  Those in the Strasberg camp have expressed their concern over a "rudderless" organization. 

"They're setting a record about not selecting a GM," a source told Harlan. "Why would you ever want to go to an unknown? They're the only team in baseball that offers an unknown."

This unnamed source, not wanting to be named because of ongoing negotiations, told Harlan that the team's leadership was a source of concern for the young pitcher because his development will be entrusted to an undetermined pitching philosophy, which would scare any young pitcher.

Here's where things get interesting, if you're the San Diego Padres.  If Strasburg declines to sign by the deadline of Aug. 17, he can play a year of independent ball and then re-enter the draft next year. 

At that point, he could be drafted and stay in his hometown of San Diego, because it's the San Diego Padres who currently hold the second worst record in baseball, and if Strasburg refuses the Nationals the right to draft him again, the Padres would be next in line.

With a new owner in Jeff Moorad going into his first full year of control with the Padres and with Kevin Towers being a long time general manager, not to mention it's not far from where the young right-hander grew up, make no mistake that the Padres will pull out all the stops to sign him.

What seemed like a new era beginning in Washington, could turn into a new era for the San Diego Padres, one that will excite every Padre fan in San Diego and around the country.  Can you imagine a pitching rotation of Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Stephen Strasburg, Mat Latos and then take your pick for the number five spot in the rotation.

If this in fact does come to pass and Strasburg elects not to sign with Washington, will the Padres know what needs to be done to sign him and begin to have the funds available and will that mean trading a contract like Adrian Gonzalez or possibly trying to package Brian Giles in a deal to get his $9 million off the books?

Washington is about to shoot themselves in the foot if they can't get this deal done and if they do, the Padres CAN NOT follow suit in that failure. 

A kid that can pitch like that, that can make an immediate impact on your pitching rotation without throwing a single pitch in the minor leagues, is someone you need to get locked down and have him in camp ready to go for spring training.

The next few weeks should be interesting, and if this goes down like a lot of people think it will, then the Padres could be in line for their biggest amateur draft signee in their history.