The Washington Nationals and Bryce Harper, #1 overall pick of the 2010 MLB draft, have less than 12 hours to reach an agreement on a contract. Not doing so would mean Harper would have to re-enter next year’s draft and the Nats would have to settle for a new pick in next year’s draft. He is represented by uber-agent Scott Boras who just happens to represent last year’s #1 pick, Stephen Strasburg. You may recall that Strasburg/Boras and the Nats reached agreement 1 minute, 17 seconds before the deadline. I expect Harper to sign, probably with similar drama.

This morning, The Post published an interesting column by Thomas Boswell about Boras’ relationship with the Nats. I learned that Boras and current manager Jim Riggleman were teammates in the minor leagues — Riggleman would lend Boras his car on Sunday’s for church. Also, I was not surprised that Boras suggested Strasburg would be disinclined to sign if Jim Bowden were the general manager. Whether that led to Bowden resigning of his own free will being sacked, I cannot say though that scenario would be a feather in Boras’ cap.

Boras and the Nats, especially principle owner Ted Lerner, really got to “know each other” during the run up for Mark Teixiera, who ultimately went to the Yankees. Boras likes to deal directly with the owners. Stan Kasten, Nats president, does not think too highly of Boras. Other Boras clients on the Nats roster include Ivan Rodriguez and Alberto Gonzales. Did the Nats bring in Rodriguez in part to grease the skids a little for the Harper signing? Hmmmm…