Come To Think Of It: The Time Is Right to Allow Trading of Draft Picks

Caveat emptor.

Yes, the Nationals had to beware that their selection of uber-phenom Stephen Strasburg carried with it the risk of unsignability (if that is even a word).

What else could they do, you ask? They simply were forced to pick Strasburg with the No. 1 pick overall in the draft or face the wrath of their fan base and media alike?

Well, not so fast. What if they had the option of trading that pick, as they do in other major sports?

Of course, under the current collective bargaining agreement, trading of draft picks is forbidden. In fact, you cannot trade a player until they have served a year in the minor league system.

But why? Why not allow the trading of picks, either shortly after signing the player, or even before the draft?

After all, the current arrangement is not good for the player or the team. Take the Strasburg situation, for example.

If Scott Boras doesn't come to terms with the Nationals, his client will have to wait another year to be eligible to be drafted again. That is a year of lost opportunity, both in terms of finances, as well as development.

And while it may not cost the Nationals any money, it certainly has opportunity cost implications for the franchise.

Meanwhile, if they could trade Strasburg, imagine what some team would be willing to offer in terms of young prospects, despite the amount of money that it will likely take to sign him.

While nothing is certain except for death, taxes, and the Cubs never winning the World Series (ouch!), Strasburg is said to be as close to a sure thing as any pitcher ever. Yes, I said "ever."

Yet reports of a $50 million windfall for Strasbug are absurd. Boras argues that his client should get what Dice-K got from the Red Sox. But he fails to mention that Matsuzaka had previous professional experience, albeit in Japan.

But it does look like it will take $20 million or so to sign him over three years. That's a lot of money to guarantee a pitcher who has never thrown a game in professional baseball at any level.

Likewise, it is also a lot of money to turn down if you're Strasburg. That is why I fully expect that they will come to an agreement, though it may take until zero hour for the deal to be solidified.

Even so, it would be beneficial for both parties if the Nats had the option of trading him. Heck, they do it in the NFL and the NBA all the time. Why not MLB?

Every year there are high draft choices that do not sign with the club that selected them, though perhaps not as visible as Strasburg would be.

The Nationals know about this all too well.

Last year they selected Missouri pitcher Aaron Crow. They failed to sign him and he ended up playing in an independent league. This obviously raises the expectation level for Washington to sign Strasburg.

Still, the Nats have their limits, and they will not guarantee $50 million to sign the San Diego State Golden Spikes award winner.

If there's no deal between Washington and Strasburg, he would go back into the 2010 draft, and the team would be awarded the No. 2 pick in 2010.

But wouldn't a trade option be in the best interests of all parties? Boras could find a team willing to come closer to his asking price; Strasburg wouldn't be forced to sit out a year; and the Nationals could save face by acquiring some top level talent in return.

It seems so damn logical. Which probably ensures that it will never happen, come to think of it.