Stephen Strasburg Signs with the Nationals

Stephen Strasburg, the number one overall draft pick of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, has agreed to a contract with the Washington Nationals. Facing a deadline of midnight on Monday, the Nationals were able to strike a deal with just minutes to spare. The contract is reportedly worth more than $15.5 million over four years.

Stephen Strasburg signs with the Washington Nationals (Image: Zuma Press)

Strasburg is one of the highest rated baseball prospects of the last twenty years. A starting pitcher for San Diego State, Strasburg was simply dominant on the college level. The lanky right-hander has an overpowering fastball and a devastating curveball in his arsenal. In his 2009 season, he was 13-1 with a 1.39 ERA. Perhaps most impressive were his 195 strikeouts in only 109 innings of work.

The Nationals were facing a lot of pressure from their fans to get this deal done. Last year they had the worst record in all of baseball. This year, that is again the case. Considering that the Nationals gave Strasburg a deal bigger than any draft pick in baseball history, they were willing to step up to the plate and spend the money to bring in an elite prospect.