No, the real problem is not understanding how the reserve clause, salary arbitration and free agency effect the signability and salary demands of players, especially those represented by Scott Boras.
The Nats gave EJ more money so they didn't have to sign him to a long term deal, which would have been cheaper this year and next, but more taxing in the future - a future Washington thinks is strong when their young pitchers are healthy.
A real mistake is not overpaying for EJ as insurance when your star is coming off Tommy John surgery and the rest of your staff is still Arb eligible, but signing EJ to a long-term deal at $8M this and steadily increasing over the next 6 years, which is what Boras was asking. He was probably worth about $8M this year given his stats and service time, and I don't really know what type of a clubhouse presence he was for the young staff, but it's clear that a one year deal was the way go with EJ, who was .500 and an ERA around 4 before his stint with the Nats, and gave you exactly that, with the possibility that he becomes what he was supposed to be as a rookie.
Would you rather have that at $11M or a 4 year deal with a 33 year old Mark Buehrle at $6M this year and $11M in 2013, $18M in 2014 and $19 in 2015 when he's 37 years old?
