Player News

• Stephen Strasburg: Officially retires from baseball

  04/07/2024 • By RotoWire

  Major League Baseball officially listed Strasburg as retired Saturday. Strasburg had been set to announce his retirement from professional baseball last September, but he nixed those plans why he and the Nationals continued to negotiate terms of the retirement. With Strasburg's retirement now official, he'll receive the entirety of the more than $100 million that remains on the seven-year, $245 million contract extension he signed in December 2019, though a portion of that money will be deferred, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. The 35-year-old's career came to a premature end after he struggled to bounce back from the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent in July 2021, but he had a terrific run for Washington after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2029 First-Year Player Draft. Over parts of 13 seasons in the majors, Strasburg compiled 113 wins, a 3.24 ERA, and 1,723 strikeouts over 1,470 innings. Strasburg made three All-Star teams and was the World Series MVP in 2019 when the Nationals won their only title in franchise history.

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• Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Heads to 60-day IL

  03/28/2024 • By RotoWire

  The Nationals placed Strasburg (thoracic outlet syndrome) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. Strasburg is essentially medically retired from baseball after he struggled to bounce back from his July 2021 thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, but he remains in the organization after he and the Nationals have thus far been unable to come to an agreement on how to dispense the $105 million he's still owed over the remaining three seasons of the seven-year, $245 million contract he signed in December 2019. Washington ownership is believed to be interested in deferring more of the money remaining in the deal, but Strasburg is already due $80 million in deferred money from 2027 through 2029 and is presumably keen on getting more of his salary up front. Until a resolution on Strasburg's financial situation is reached, he'll remain on the Nationals' books, though placing him on the 60-day IL at least frees up a 40-man roster spot.

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• Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: May serve as veteran mentor in camp

  02/14/2024 • By RotoWire

  President of baseball operations Mike Rizzo said Wednesday that Strasburg (shoulder) won't participate in spring training but could report to Nationals camp at some point to work with the younger pitchers on the staff, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. The 35-year-old right-hander is effectively retired from professional baseball while he's struggled to recover from his July 2021 thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. However, Strasburg remains on the Nationals' 40-man roster while he and Washington ownership have thus far been unable to finalize an agreement regarding the $105 million he's still owed over the next three seasons on the seven-year, $245 million contract he signed in December 2019. Strasburg will forfeit the remainder of the salary he's owed if he retires without coming to a formal agreement with Washington, while ownership is presumably keen on recouping at least a portion of their financial commitment. Even if retirement negotiations aren't completed anytime soon, the Nationals will at least be able to open up a spot on the 40-man roster by placing Strasburg on the 60-day injured list.

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• Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Negotiating retirement terms

  09/07/2023 • By RotoWire

  Strasburg (shoulder) and the Nationals are still negotiating the terms of his retirement and his scheduled press conference Saturday has been canceled, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports. The Nats were planning to honor Strasburg this Saturday in Washington, according to Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic, and there has been talk within the organization of retiring his number. Those things are expected to happen eventually, per Dougherty, but the two sides may be discussing some sort of deferred-money agreement as Strasburg calls it quits at age 35. He is owed more than $100 million on the seven-year, $245 million contract extension he signed in December of 2019, and all of that money is guaranteed because this is an injury-related retirement.

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• Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Retiring at age 35

  08/24/2023 • By RotoWire

  Strasburg (neck/shoulder) is planning to announce his retirement from baseball in September, Jesse Dougherty and Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post report. There is a news conference scheduled for Sept. 9 at Nationals Park, where Strasburg will officially call it a wrap at age 35. Washington still owes him more than $105 million on a contract that runs through 2026, and it'll be paid in full because this is an injury-related retirement, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Strasburg burst onto scene in 2010 and registered a 3.17 ERA with 1,695 strikeouts across his first 239 major-league starts (1438.2 innings), but he's battled a range of physical issues -- most notably thoracic outlet syndrome -- since helping the Nats win the World Series in 2019. The right-hander did not pitch this year and surrendered 25 runs (24 earned) in just 31.1 total big-league innings between the 2020-2022 campaigns.

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