It's not money. It's years. Why would the Nats give him anything over two years with an option for a third if that blocks potential high quality young talent from reaching the majors?
Because he's the best option for the next two years (years where we should be contenders) and the price of having good him the next two years may be more years on the back end than you'd otherwise want (ie money since you could always eat salay and trade him after two)
