WASHINGTON — Relaxation is on Stephen Strasburg's agenda for the summer. History, apparently, is not.

Asked about the spotty success rate of No. 1 draft picks over the years, the latest to claim that mantle said yesterday he's not inclined to learn from other people's mistakes.

"I'm sorry, but what would I learn from other top picks?" Strasburg said in a conference call with reporters. "Obviously, I watch guys that have made it to the big leagues. I don't plan on being the top pick and then not being successful in the big leagues.

"I obviously want to take my game to the next level and I believe that I've learned how to work hard in college and I hope to carry that over."

The mega-hyped right-hander from San Diego State was selected Tuesday by the mega-bad Washington Nationals. Now comes a summer of negotiation and relaxation. The player will be the one doing the relaxing, while agent Scott Boras and the Nationals work out what is expected to be a record-setting contract.

"There's obviously a few places I'd like to go, and just relax this summer and have fun," said Strasburg, who spent last summer playing in the Olympics and just completed his college season with the Aztecs. "It'll be good to have a little rest time, especially after the big workload I had the previous year. It'll be a good summer to be able to lift and get stronger and have the summer I haven't had in a while."

Boras wouldn't give numbers, but he's expected to ask for a package worth several times the value of the current high-water mark of $10.5 million that Mark Prior received in 2001. The Nationals have already started their counteroffensive, saying they're not going to throw baseball's salary structure out of whack for one player and that the expectations surrounding Strasburg have reached unrealistic proportions.

Both sides say they want to get a deal done, but say they have contingency plans if it doesn't.

"If that does not happen," Boras said, "you then would look to the available resources one would have to evaluate what the next step is."

Meanwhile, the Nationals signed right-hander Drew Storen, the 10th overall pick in the draft and their second choice in the first round.

Storen was 7-1 with seven saves and a 3.80 ERA during his sophomore season at Stanford. The Nationals assigned him to Class A Hagerstown.

SHORT HOPS

Rangers: Texas left-hander Matt Harrison will remain on the disabled list instead of starting today's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Harrison, 23, who has an inflamed shoulder, will make his second rehab start for Double-A Frisco at San Antonio.

Rays: Tampa Bay designated hitter Pat Burrell (neck strain) could rejoin the team this weekend and shortstop Jason Bartlett (sprained left ankle) may be back early next week. Burrell has been out since May 11. Bartlett was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 26.