Set For Retirement Before The First Pitch

Steven Strasburg's retirement is set before he throws his first big league pitch.

Yesterday the lowly Washington Nationals selected San Diego State pitcher Steven Strasburg with the first pick in the baseball draft.

There is no doubt to Strasburg's talent.   The kid has got a gun of an arm.   But you have to wonder about the wisdom of the pick on a motivational level.

Strasburg is going to be very, very wealthy when the deal gets done.    His agent, the always aggressive Scott Boras, has said they are looking for the richest rookie contract in baseball history, possibly as high as $50 million dollars.   While it's doubtful the final deal will be for that amount, it's clear Strasburg is going to be set.  Myabe too set.

$10 million bucks, smartly invested, can provide a comfortable retirement plan for anyone.  A 5% tax-free muni bond kicks off $500,000 a year on that sum.   In other words, unless the kid pulls an MC Hammer, Strasburg doesn't have to worry about money again.

That could end up being bad for the needy Nationals.    Surely Strasburg is a guy who wants to win ... but there is no denying that the hunger to "make it" has been the motivator for many a young ballplayer to give everything they have to the team.   Fighting to pay the mortgage can be a powerful incentive.

The Nationals better hope Strasburg still has the desire to "make it" even though he's already made it.