Time for the Nats to Pay Up

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SOAK IT UP, Washington.

For one day, the Nationals are going to be the envy of every major league team.

Stephen Strasburg is going to be hailed as the next great fireballer — and he'll be wearing a curly "W" on his hat.

That is, after a problematic negotiating round. The San Diego State pitcher wisely hired Scott Boras as his agent. Boras will get him a record deal — and the Nationals have to pay.

Having let Aaron Crow come and go unsigned last year, Washington could ill afford to fail to sign Strasburg if he was the 10th pick, let alone the top pick. Speaking of 10th, the Nats are also choosing from that position as compensation for the Crow incompetence.

Surely, the Lerner family must be asking, "How much is too much for this kid?" Is it $20 million or $50 million, a preposterous sum Boras floated months back?

There's little chance Strasburg will be worth the cash. Pitchers rarely work out; just ask the Orioles, who took the coveted Ben McDonald in 1989.

Yet the Lerners have no equity in D.C. or Major League Baseball. They've built the worst team money can buy. It's their time to step up to the plate and show they're ready for the big leagues.

They'll overpay to do it, but what choice do they have?

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