"Right now, I'm ready for about two or three innings of work." Matt Purke, on how his arm feels.

"That's the way East Texas people are." Purke's agent, Peter Vescovo, about consenting to pre-signing medical exams.

Exuding a quiet confidence, one of the Washington Nationals newest recruits met the D.C. media today and explained why he felt the Nats were the right team for him and why he consented to an invasive medical procedure, even before he signed a contract with the team.

Left-handed pitcher Matt Purke, late of Texas Christian University, spoke with a deep, respectful voice as he addressed Nationals beat writers.  Accompanied by his family, his agent Peter Vescovo, the Lerner family and Nats GM Mike Rizzo, the 21-year old pulled on his red Curly W cap and crisp, white home uniform No. 47 (for Tom Glavine), then answered several questions revolving around his draft status, how he decided this was the place for him to be, and about the health of his left arm, which limited him to just 11 starts in his sophomore year.

Below is a transcript of the press conference Q&A.

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What was it about the Nationals that convinced you to sign here?  

I came up here. They come highly recommended. I've seen the things they've done the last few years with the prospects they've brought in and the Major League players as well. This organization is going to be very strong, they're building, and they're going to be a serious team to deal with in the years to come. I knew I wanted to be a part of that and hopefully to be a helpful piece in the puzzle.

How is your arm, and why did you consent to the physical, MRI and arthogram? How were the last couple of days, excitement-wise? How much have you been throwing this summer?

I just knew that, the only thing I could do was lay it out there and say 'Do what you want to do', do the test, look at it, get your own assessment of it and then we can talk. I knew that I was healthy and I was fit again. I just had to prove it so I said 'do what you have to do' and then we'll talk from there.

How have the last couple of days been?

Big relief. It's been nice. It's been a long, seems like two weeks but it's only been three days. But they've been very enjoyable and I'm very excited for the opportunity that I have here and to come.

How does your arm feel?  Have you been doing a throwing program this summer?

Yes, I've been throwing all summer and I've been been in bullpens. I've been able to build my stamina up now. Since my last bullpen I've been ready, right now I'm ready for about two or three innings of work. That's what I knew I needed to do all summer is to get built back up and get my strength and everything that I kinda missed throughout the year.

Was it difficult being hurt in college, not being able to be on the field with your teammates? How frustrating was watching the draft?

It pulls on you. You want to compete for your guys and your teammates and I loved TCU and the opportunity I had there and everybody, the staff, Coach Schlossnagel and those guys. But I sat down with them and he said, 'I've seen you work all year. You've done what you need to do for this team' he said, 'But you need to take care of yourself because you have a bright future and a long career and that's what you need to do.' So we were able to work with that.

How frustrating was watching the draft, with each pick going by and your name not getting called?

It was different from everything, but I was very honest and open in the beginning with everyone and throughout the year. I was not worried or concerned where I got picked. I just wanted to know who it was going to be. I knew that at some point I would get picked and this was the right team and the right situation that I needed. So I was very fortunate and excited when it happened.

Was going back to school ever really an option? When did you know this was the right situation?

You always have options. Bu tI knew that once everything had started here and that I'd gotten up here and gotten a feel for this organization I knew that this was a good fit for me and the right situation that I was looking for. And so I knew I was ready to play and move on, and I was thankful enough to get the opportunity.

When did you know the Nats was the right situation for you?

I think it was pretty much right away once I had seen and heard about the things that are going on here and how this organization, the Lerners and Mr. Rizzo, run things around here and I knew that was something that I was looking for and value a lot. So I knew this was a really good spot.

How did you know DC was a really good spot? Can you describe your repertoire and maybe who you pattern your pitching after? To Rizzo, about the plan for Purke going forward:

When I did all my college recruiting I took a lot of visits and I went to a lot of places. When I got to TCU, I kinda got the sense that 'This is home', this is where I could call home and I can fit in with these people and be a part of this group. Throughout the days I was here before the All-Star break, I got the same, similar feeling, when I was able to talk to the owners and be around the stadium and see the fans and stuff. And I said, 'I know this feeling.' And it was a good one and that's why I felt that way.

Can you describe your repertoire and maybe what pitchers you model yourself after?

Pitching repertoire is simple. Fastball, curveball, change-up. I say someone I emulate myself off of is kind of a cross between Clayton Kershaw and Cole Hamels. I have the same build, similar style. So I've kinda watched those guys and I've been fortunate enough to meet both of them and talk to them and learn about their careers and what's been successful for them.

To Rizzo, about the immediate plans for Purke the rest of the summer:

Matt's going to stay at the stadium for a day or so and go down to Florida and we're going ot have our pitching coordinator, Spin Williams down there. We'll assess where he's at as far as his readiness to pitch, and as Matt said I've seen him pitch recently and he's well on his way to pitching in a game so when we make that assessment we'll put a plan together to get him on the mound.

To Purke's agent, Peter Vescovo, about the difference between this negotiation and with the Rangers in 2009, and the MRI: To Purke, did you have any concerns about the arthogram?

I just think there was more dialog between the two parties and we're just more open and up front. That's the way Matthew and his family wanted it to be, to be straightforward and honest. Some people might say, 'Why would you shoot the dye?' why would you do this, but it's the way East Texas people are. They're gonna put everything out there and show you what they're about. So I think Mike and I kinda agreed that we were gonna move forward with it and luckily it worked out.

To Purke, about consenting to an invasive medical procedure before being under contract:

I knew that's what needed to happen. Obviously when you talk about investing in someone you're going to want to know what your investment is all about. I was comfortable and confident in the results I had gotten from everything throughout the year and so I said that's fine,. I had no objection. They're looking to protect their investment and I understand that and understand that it's business and it's not personal and so I was open to do it and I was thankful that I did it early. I really was glad to do it early and get it out of the way, that way talks would be able to continue then and we wouldn't have anything pending on what happens in the end.

The Washington Nationals still have several of their highest draft picks yet unsigned.  They have until the Aug. 15 deadline to bring these players under contract and, like in years past, these signings will probably come cascading down on deadline day.  Last year, the names were Ray, Solis, Cole and Harper.  This year the names read Rendon, Meyer, Goodwin and Purke.

For 3B Anthony Rendon, RHP Alex Meyer and CF Brian Goodwin, it's a matter of time.  The Nats have MLB's guidelines (slot) for each of these players, and once other dominoes fall into place these players will most likely sign at or near what their slot should call for.  None were a reach with the pick they were chosen, and none seemed like they had signability issues on draft day.

Third round pick LHP Matt Purke, however, is a different story. 

Purke, 21 (6'3", 175), just completed his sophomore year at TCU.  A bout of bursitis limited Purke to just 11 starts in 2011, and he took a month off to allow the shoulder to calm down. But he was excellent when he did pitch, going 5-1 with a 1.71 ERA, posting a .187 batting average against with 61 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings. He pitched most recently June 4 in the NCAA Regionals, going five innings and allowing two runs.

In his freshman year, however, Purke was nothing short of dominant.  He went 16-0 with a 3.02 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He had 142 strikeouts against just 34 walks in 116 1/3 innings, earning NCAA College Freshman of the Year, and was named second team All-America starting pitcher. Scouts drooled and proclaimed him one of the top three players for the 2011 draft.

Purke was sophomore eligible for this draft since he's already 21.  The injury, combined with the fact that he retains his college eligibility should he not sign, caused him to fall in the draft and subsequently be available for the Nats to select with the 96th overall pick.

But therein lies the rub.  Purke holds most of the cards.  If he doesn't get what his agent thinks in an appropriate deal, he can simply go back to TCU, prove his health, and most likely be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, according to at least one prominent draft expert. 

My colleague at Federal Baseball, Patrick Reddington, does an excellent job recapping Purke's previous draft history and the shenanigans that happened when the Texas Rangers drafted him, thought they had a deal, and Major League Baseball nuked it.

So not only does the player have leverage, but he also has history as a rationale for signing an over-slot deal.

But here's the thing:  it's not going to take the original $6 million deal to get Purke under contract.  The situation has changed.  He's been injured.  He's two years older, already 21 year old.  He's already behind where other 21-year olds are developmentally in the minor leagues.  The Nats knew when they drafted him that he was going to take over-slot money to sign him.  The best thing for the player is also the best thing for the team: Get him signed and get him started on his pro career.

So how much will it take?  My thought is that the player and his agent would be foolish to walk away from $3 million.  That amount isn't insignificant, but it's a drop in the bucket to the Lerner family and this organization.  And to put it in perspective, it's the same amount they've given Chien-Ming Wang the last two years to rehab from his devastating shoulder capsule injury, with zero guarantees on his services past the last day of this season.  It's also the same amount they've given Pudge Rodriguez each of the last two seasons to hit .254/.289/.342.

It's funny how teams throw money around during the off-season on free agents like it's monopoly money on "established veterans" but fail to invest in their future by not signing their draft picks.  Sure, there are special situations, which Purke certainly qualifies.  But ever since the Aaron Crow debacle the Nationals have been very good about coming up with the money to sign their draft picks, especially the ones they took anticipating signing for over-slot, as evidenced last year with A.J. Cole and Robbie Ray especially.

Purke, returned to health and under contract, would be the steal of the 2011 draft and could potentially give the Nats the shutdown left-hander in the starting rotation they thought they had when they drafted Ross Detwiler No. 6 overall in 2007.  This needs to get done.

#signMattPurke.

Perhaps lost a little bit in the Harpermania is something else going on in Hagerstown.  A slight, left-handed 19-year old named Robbie Ray is completely dominating his opponents.  Though he is still of tender age, Ray is proving -- along with his better known teammate -- that he may soon be in need of tougher competition.

Ray, 6'2", 170, has made six starts for Low-A Hagerstown. His record is modest at 2-0, but the rest of his stats are gaudy: 30 innings pitched, one earned run (yes, one), 12 hits, eight walks and 30 strikeouts.  Opponents are hitting .125 off of him.  He has faced a total of 110 batters and allowed just 24 to reach base via hit, walk or hit by pitch.

How dominant has Ray been?  In four of his six starts he's given up just one base hit in each.  In a fifth start, he gave up two hits.  That's right, of the 12 hits he's given up total this season so far, seven came in one game, the only start he's been scored upon.  In that start, he went six innings, allowing those seven hits, without walking a batter, and struck out four.  That was his "bad" start.

Ray's last outing on Monday, he again went six innings.  He gave up one hit and walked two, striking out nine.  Ho hum.

Every year around draft time interest peaks in the Nats player development system.  Ray is a testament to what the Nats are trying to accomplish.  He was a 12th round pick in the 2010 Amateur Draft.  He was ranked much higher by the scouting systems, but fell to the 12th round as he had a strong commitment to the University of Arkansas. 

GM Mike Rizzo, V.P. of Player Personnel Roy Clark and Scouting Director Kris Kline were able to talk young Mr. Ray and his family into accepting the Nats offer to begin his professional career by offering him "above-slot" money; essentially paying him what he would have gotten were he to have been drafted in the first couple of rounds.  The Nationals acquired fellow 2010 high school draftee A.J. Cole in much the same manner.

Further, they are positioned to do the same thing this year.  The Nats selected LHP Matt Purke with their third round pick (96th overall) in the recently concluded 2011 draft.  Purke (6'4", 180) was drafted 14th overall by the Texas Rangers in the 2009 draft after his high school career and reportedly had a deal in place.  But with the Rangers ownership issues that year, MLB was overseeing their finances and rejected the original deal.  Purke decided against the revised deal and instead enrolled at TCU.

The kid didn't disappoint his freshman year.  He went 16-0 with a 3.02 ERA and 1.07 WHIP.  He had 142 strikeouts against just 34 walks in 116 1/3 innings, earning NCAA College Freshman of the Year, and was named second team All-America starting pitcher. Scouts drooled and proclaimed him one of the top three players for the 2011 draft.

A bout of bursitis limited Purke to just 11 starts in 2011 however, and he took a month off to allow the shoulder to calm down.  But he was similarly excellent when he did pitch, going 5-1 with a 1.71 ERA, posting a .187 batting average against with 61 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings.  He pitched most recently June 4 in the NCAA Regionals, going five innings and allowing two runs. He was on a pitch count and left after 83 pitches.

Purke was sophomore eligible for this draft since he's already 21.  The injury, combined with the fact that he retains his college eligibility should he not sign, caused him to fall in the draft and subsequently be available for the Nats to select with the 96th overall pick.  It was a risky pick, to be sure.  But Purke's a Top 5 talent when healthy, and if the Nats can make him an attractive enough offer, perhaps he'll forgo his remaining eligibility and begin his professional career, much like Ray and Cole did last season.

This is precisely how team with deep pockets are supposed to operate.  For years, the Yankees and Red Sox have selected players with high upsides that had signability issues, or commitments to college, and talked them into taking their money.  The Nationals, in the last two drafts, have operated similarly.  It's a gamble, but so far Rizzo looks like he's winning with the dice.

If Purke really did just have a muscle strain and after an extended time off can be back to normal -- and if he decides to take the money and forgo next year's draft -- the Nats gamble could pay off huge, giving them another top-pick talent in the third round.

Injuries and attrition being what they are, even first round picks in the MLB draft are a crapshoot -- only about half every year end up making an eventual impact in the big leagues.  But it's easy to think about the pitching talent the Nats have amassed in the last two drafts and get excited.