Why Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals Avoided the Biggest Mistake Ever

Stephen Strasburg may be a once in a generation talent. His numbers are incredible, and his stuff is untouchable. What have we learned, though, when the baseball world promises something this great? It's not always as good as it seems.

Most recent, see Mark Prior.

Two days ago, the Nationals weren't even sure if they were going to sign Strasburg. They may not even have been sure up until five minutes before the midnight deadline on Monday.

Two minutes separated Strasburg and the Nationals from dropping the ball in 2009, and possibly the careers of the budding young prospect and one of the worst franchises in baseball.

A four-year major league deal, $7.5 million bonus and $7.6 million in salaries including almost half a million for 2009. That is $15.1 million total guaranteed.

It knocks Mark Prior's former record signing bonus of 10.5 million out of the park.

If you think this signing day deadline was a treat, just wait until Bryce Harper out of Las Vegas comes along.

Show me a Nationals fan that was happy with the way the team has performed since the move to DC, and I'll show you a liar.

As of today, I'll show you tons of Nationals fans with at least a glimmer of hope. Sure, Strasburg isn't going to immediately make the Nationals contenders. It's going to take way more than just his talent to do that.

But by rolling the dice on draft day, even with the uncertainty behind his signablility, the Nationals immediately gained a new face of their franchise.

Had Strasburg not signed, his career may have taken a turn for the worse. Look at Luke Hochevar from Tennessee for example. Even the Nats 2008 top pick, Aaron Crow from Missouri, may fit the bill of what happens when you go high and don't sign.

Hochevar won with his "get more money" scheme, but he may never develop into the front line guys the Royals had hoped. Crow, on the other hand, has been pitching in an independent league, and it's rumored that his stuff isn't nearly as sharp as his final  year at Mizzou.

Would the same fate await Strasburg if he hadn't signed? Who knows. He might have had the opportunity to be drafted by his hometown San Diego Padres had he elected to reenter the draft next season.

Was he willing to find out? I don't think so.

He had everything to gain, and even more to lose by NOT signing. His agent, the infamous Scott Boras, long known for his negotiation tactics, usually gets his way. In his world, that could definitely mean having a player not sign.

From a money standpoint, it could have worked out better has Strasburg not signed. From a pitching point of view, he took the biggest forward step possible in his baseball career. The guy is a flat-out competitor, meaning he should want to pitch immediately.

Stephen Strasburg accepted less money than he would have liked, even though it still eclipsed the all-time draft record. That's a good thing, because who knows what would have happened.

Deep down, Strasburg knew he never wanted to play independent ball or go back to school. What does he have left to prove there? Nothing.

By taking the deal, one of the most heralded pitching prospects of all-time can finally move on with his career, in an attempt to right the ship for the Washington Nationals.

The pain and sorrows that the Nationals have suffered, and that glistening new ballpark that isn't filled with fans is just another reason why they took a step toward changing their fate last night.

It may not happen for years, but on this day at least, the Nationals are winners.