Why the Nationals Should Try To Trade Stephen Strasburg

The draft is over, and Scott Boras got the world of baseball to beg at his feet again, this time over the latest "best pitching prospect ever," Stephen Strasburg.

The Washington Nationals gave Strasburg over $15 million to become the richest guy on a minor league bus. Even Boras himself said Strasburg isn't ready; of course he waited until 12:01 Tuesday morning to say as much.

The Nationals have a beautiful new stadium and a team that's best described as a mix of consistent mediocrity and hot garbage. But now they have the next great pitcher in the history of the game, so that's all going to change right?

It very well could change, and it might be because Strasburg isn't in Washington.

Let me set for you a frame of reference. I'm a Cubs fan who all-too fondly remembers the last pitcher whose bio page read like Strasburg's: Mark Prior. Anyone else remember the can't miss kid from USC that had a motion computers told us was historically flawless? Yeah.

Prior was everything to the Cubs organization for about 18 months, and is now, less than five years later, part of the 12 percent of America that's unemployed.

What guarantees do the Nationals have that Strasburg's bio won't continue to mirror Prior's into his professional career? He's a line drive or wet mound from being $15 million wasted.

Which is precisely why the Nationals should now, behind closed doors as quietly as they can, shop Strasburg all over baseball.

For those Nationals fans that think this is blasphemy, come to Chicago. I'll sell you my $200 Prior jersey for a tank of gas and a can of Dr. Pepper (as long as the Dr. Pepper's cold).

Think about the hype surrounding this kid. The Cubs could have had almost anyone in baseball for Prior, and refused because he was "the future." Who in their right mind would trade "the future?"

Think about the big market teams that could use a major splash. The Mets are desperate for something positive, and putting a right-handed arm like Strasburg next to Johan Santana might be worth a hefty price. Jose Reyes perhaps? More?

The Angels and Dodgers are always in love with young pitchers, and Strasburg played his college ball in Southern California. Could James Loney or Matt Kemp make a package look good to Washington? What about Howie Kendrick or Kendry Morales?

There are teams all over North America that would love to get their hands on Strasburg, and would likely overpay to get him.

The trouble for the Nationals is that, going back to the organization's days in Montreal, they have historically been the team that's the victim of the over payment. Remember, they're the organization that gave up Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee, among others, for Bartolo Colon.

Sometimes it's making a drastic move, like Boston parting ways with Nomar Garciaparra, that is the catalyst for an organization to jump. Granted, the Red Sox were in the midst of a playoff chase when they made that move.

But picking up the bounty of talent it would require to move a prospect like Strasburg, could bring life to the Nationals; that the organization hasn't seen since the group of Alou, Grissom and Walker were patrolling their outfield on the turf in Olympic Stadium.