According to Amanda Comak of the Washington Times, the Nationals could exceed the remaining recommended
signing funds they have of $3 million and offer Lucas Giolito more to sign, but they won’t. The team, whose draft strategy in years past has paid dividends, says they won’t exceed the slot value, and they won’t give up next year’s draft pick.
According to the rules of the new CBA, there are stiff penalties for signing a draft pick for more than their recommended slot value and for exceeding overall spending for ther first ten picks. For Giolito, the Nationals have around $3 million to get a deal in place. If the Nationals exceed that, they would forfeit next year’s pick. As of now, Washington looks like they’ll be picking pretty late in next year’s draft, but the team understands the value of every pick.
Comak said:
"As an organization run by a former scout and scouting director in Mike Rizzo, and a team that has been built largely on the back of good drafts, the Nationals view that pick far too valuable to forfeit by any means."
Giolito is committed to attend UCLA this fall and may be looking to improve upon his draft stock for next year after falling considerably in this year’s draft. Giolito was once projected as a number one pick before hurting his elbow and scaring teams off.
Should the Nationals not sign him, they would receive a supplemental pick in next year’s draft to compensate. Washington would rather go without a pick this year and try again next year than lose a first round pick altogether next season. It’s a good strategy coming from a front office quickly building a name for itself in the strategy department.
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