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Could Strasburg Move To Japan, Avoid Draft?

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 3, 2009 at 2:36pm CST]

Aroldis Chapman can defect from his home country and become a free agent. Could Stephen Strasburg do something similar? Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post concludes that Scott Boras and his clients ultimately play by the rules Bud Selig makes. Here's a closer look at the super-agent and the system he's working within:

Boras wants Strasburg paid like a free agent, even though the Nationals have exclusive rights to him.
His asking price is believed to be $50MM, but no draft pick has ever surpassed Mark Prior's $10.5MM bonus.
The Post's Chico Harlan points out that, in accordance with the MLB rules, the Nats have likely offered Strasburg a preliminary deal already, though nothing Strasburg isn't expected to accept it.
Boras has hinted that he could take Strasburg to Japan if the Nationals don't offer enough money.
MLB's vice-president of labor relations explains what will happen if Strasburg doesn't sign with the Nats: "He goes back into the draft, and if he doesn't sign with that team, he goes back in again."
Boras could try to work around the wording in the MLB rules and establish Strasburg as a resident in Japan. This could make him an international resident, which would allow him, in theory, to operate under the same system as international free agents.
However, the MLB rule ends with the following: "official interpretations of this Rule 4 may be made from time to time by the Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee."
In other words, Bud Selig has the power to step in if Boras gets too creative for his liking.

Full Story | Comments (46) | Categories: Scott Boras | Stephen Strasburg | Washington Nationals

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Could Strasburg Move To Japan, Avoid Draft?

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