 "Photo: Courtesy of MLB.com")
 "Photo: Courtesy of MLB.com")
There is a mantle — or perhaps an entire room — in the Stephen Strasburg household that has grown quite crowded in the past several weeks.
Before this summer, the Strasburg trophy case already included an Olympic bronze medal, two Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Year awards, countless MWC Pitcher of the Week honors and pretty much any award given to a collegiate baseball pitcher in the past two years.
But in these last two months, Strasburg added the intangible award of No. 1 overall draft pick, the Dick Howser Trophy and, just two weeks ago, the 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award. The San Diego State ace beat out Dustin Ackley (North Carolina), Mike Leake (Arizona State), Kent Matthes (Alabama) and A.J. Morris (Kansas State) for collegiate baseball’s highest award.
“It’s just a tremendous honor,” Strasburg said in his Golden Spikes acceptance speech at the All-Star FanFest in St. Louis two weeks ago. “You look at all the players who were past Golden Spikes winners and to be considered in that caliber as a college player is an amazing feeling for me.”
Players such as David Price (‘07), Tim Lincecum (‘06) and Jason Varitek (‘94) have all had their hands on the Golden Spikes Award. It’s basically the Heisman Trophy for college baseball players. And, if you told Strasburg three years ago that he’d be holding the Golden Spikes trophy in early July 2009, he would have thought you were kidding.
“I remember three years ago, coming into San Diego State and really wondering if I was even going to have a spot on the team,” Strasburg said. “It’s been a roller-coaster ride the last three years for me, but it’s all worth it. Bottom line, if you want something bad enough, you have to go out there and get it. I’m extremely happy to be here.”
And believe it or not, things may get even better for the 21-year-old ace in the next few weeks. Strasburg and his advisor/agent/representative/attorney Scott Boras are reportedly working on a record-breaking deal with the Washington Nationals that could land Strasburg a contract larger than any player’s in Major League Baseball draft history.
That is, of course, depending on which reports you read. According to ESPN’s Pedro Gomez, “The Washington Nationals are not on pace to sign top overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg by the Aug. 17 deadline.” A source close to the negotiations told Gomez the Nationals have yet to make an offer to Strasburg, other than the standard minor league deal.
However, a report in The Washington Times claimed a Washington Nationals’ “club official” said Gomez’s report was “not consistent with the actual talks we’ve had with (Strasburg and Boras).”
With both Boras and Nationals’ interim general manager Mike Rizzo refusing to “negotiate through the media,” it’s hard to say where the negotiations are exactly.
Either way, it’s safe to say that some time in the not-too-distant future, Strasburg should be able to afford a whole house to stuff his awards in.
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