You might be wondering why we're starting off this week's Sunday baseball offering by mentioning a little hangout north of the border. Well, here's why:

All summer long, we've been keeping tabs on the Washington Nationals' efforts to sign pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the top pick in the June draft. Strasburg, 21, has been called the greatest amateur pitching prospect ever. The righthander features a triple-digit fastball and a stun-gun breaking ball. He struck out 375 batters in 243 innings over three seasons at San Diego State.

Though he's not a hitter, Strasburg reminds us a little of J.D. Drew.

In 1997, Drew was hailed as one of the greatest college hitters ever. The Detroit Tigers had the first pick in the draft that year, but wanted no part of the high contract demands set by Drew's agent, Scott Boras. The Phillies had the second pick and took a shot that they could get a deal done with Drew.

For more than 11 months, the two sides haggled, trying to get a deal done. Boras battled with Phillies officials, and occasionally with reporters. Curt Schilling, then the Phillies' ace, jumped in and mucked it up with Boras. It was ugly. There was so much bad blood, it was surprising no one drowned. Covering the story was, in a word, draining. That's why we can't help but think of McLean's this weekend.

The Phillies had 50 weeks after the 1997 draft to sign Drew or lose their rights to him. The team was in Montreal when the clock struck 12 on the tense negotiations and the Phillies' rights to the player expired.

In separate telephone interviews that day, former general manager Ed Wade and Boras both had their say on the matter.

And with that, one of the most consuming baseball stories in Phillies history had reached its end.

For the reporters who covered that story - not to mention a 14-inning game, won by the Phils, that night - there was only this to do when it was all over: find a cold one. Check for bruises. Exhale. Thank goodness for McLean's.

The folks who cover the Nationals have it a little easier these days. Don't misunderstand - covering the Strasburg negotiations has been a challenge. But they won't last nearly as long as the Drew negotiations.

Last year, major-league baseball (wisely) moved the deadline for signing draft picks to mid-August. This year's deadline is tomorrow night at 11:59. If Strasburg, who, by the way, is represented by Boras, doesn't sign by then, the Nationals will lose rights to him. Nationals president Stan Kasten seems prepared for that outcome, acknowledging yesterday that there is a "very real possibility" that he won't sign.

Despite Kasten's comment, this remains one of the most important weekends in Nationals history as they try to pull out a last-minute deal. It's also a pivotal weekend for the National League East and for major- league baseball as a whole. Strasburg is a franchise-type talent who can swing a division if he becomes the pitcher most think he will. And his steep price tag may ultimately lead to the commissioner's office seeking stricter signing-bonus guidelines when the current basic agreement expires in December 2011.

What will it take for the Nationals to sign Strasburg? There were rumblings earlier this summer that Boras was seeking a $50 million deal. That's probably high, but it's clear that Boras is intent on blowing away the previous high mark for a drafted player - the $10.5 million the Cubs gave Mark Prior in 2001.

Prior illustrates the risk that comes with giving young pitchers huge money. Like Strasburg, he was a much-hyped college pitcher from Southern California (USC) who was supposed to be a division-changer. But injuries ravaged Prior's career. He made 30 starts just once in five seasons with the Cubs and hasn't pitched in the majors since 2006.

The pitching arm is one of the most fragile pieces of hardware in pro sports. The Nationals know this all too well. Prized rookie Jordan Zimmermann, a key piece of their future, was recently discovered to have an elbow injury that will require reconstructive surgery and a 12- to 18-month recovery.

Will the Nationals meet Strasburg's price, which could end up between $15 million and $25 million?

Can they afford not to as they seek to become a player in the NL East?

Does Strasburg really want to play for a club that is probably several years away from being a contender?

By 11:59 p.m. tomorrow, these questions will be answered, and another draft-pick drama will be over.