Stephen Strasburg: Officially retires from baseball
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Dealing with 'severe nerve damage'
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Strasburg (neck/shoulder) has been completely shut down from all rehab activities for more than a month while dealing with "severe nerve damage," Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Strasburg has made only eight big-league starts since helping the Nationals to a World Series title in 2019. Just one of those starts has come since he underwent thoracic outlet surgery in June 2021, with his comeback attempt last season quickly getting shut down. Each setback makes it increasingly likely that Strasburg has already thrown his final major-league pitch, though he's yet to officially call it quits.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Placed on 60-day IL
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The Nationals placed Strasburg (ribs/shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday while he continues to experience symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome.
Strasburg's status for 2023 is up in the air after he had a nerve-related setback over the offseason. He can't be activated until late May at the soonest, and unless he's able to resume throwing within the next few weeks, his return will be much further off than that.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Likely to open on 60-day IL
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The Nationals are expected to place Strasburg (ribs/shoulder) on the 60-day injured list to begin the season, a source tells Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post.
Considering Strasburg hasn't been taking part in spring training workouts after experiencing a nerve-related setback during an offseason bullpen session, the news that he'll likely be sidelined for at least the first two months of the 2023 campaign comes as little surprise. Since experiencing renewed complications in his ongoing recovery from the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent in July 2021, Strasburg has sought out multiple medical opinions on his next steps, but the Nationals have yet to publicize what sort of treatment strategy the 34-year-old right-hander is following. Since earning World Series MVP honors in 2019 and then signing a seven-year, $245 million contract extension with Washington, Strasburg has made just eight starts over the first three seasons of the deal.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Experiences setback, not at camp
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Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday that Strasburg (ribs/shoulder) experienced a nerve-related setback during a recent offseason bullpen session and is currently rehabbing in Washington, D.C., Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The report follows one earlier in the day from Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, who noted that Strasburg's name was absent from the list of 34 healthy pitchers at Nationals camp in Florida. Strasburg reached the point in his offseason rehab program where he was able to complete one bullpen session without incident, but Martinez said the right-hander had trouble following the second session. The nerve-related issue can be tied to Strasburg's ongoing struggles with thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition he addressed through surgery in July 2021. The veteran is without a clear timeline to join the Nationals following the setback, but he now appears on track to begin the season on the injured list.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Not participating in workouts
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Strasburg (ribs/shoulder) is not included among the list of healthy pitchers in Nationals camp, per Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com.
There are 34 pitchers on that list, and Strasburg's name is absent. He has also yet to be spotted at the Nats' spring training facility in Florida. It's becoming quite clear that the 34-year-old right-hander is not going to be ready for the start of the 2023 season as he continues to work through thoracic outlet syndrome and a stress reaction in his rib cage. He's thrown just 31.1 major-league innings since the start of the 2020 season.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Throwing near home
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Strasburg (ribs/shoulder) was taking part in a throwing program near his home Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
There is still no clarity as to how much the Nationals are going to be able to get out of Strasburg in 2023, but the 34-year-old right-hander continues to plug away in his ongoing recovery from July 2021 surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome. A stress reaction in his rib cage is what limited him to just one major-league start in 2022, and that injury was said to be related to the lingering TOS issue. Strasburg can probably be ignored again on fantasy draft day, unless a sudden reason for newfound optimism arises during spring training.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Status unclear for 2023
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Strasburg's (ribs) status for 2023 is a "mystery," according to general manager Mike Rizzo, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Strasburg has been focusing on strengthening his shoulder since being diagnosed with a stress reaction of his ribs, a side effect of the issue that led to thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in July 2021. Even the team is feigning optimism here, but admitting the obvious, that it's unclear what to expect from Strasburg going forward. He has logged 31.1 innings since the start of the 2020 season.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Not throwing, 2022 return unlikely
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Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Thursday that Strasburg (ribs) "feels a little bit better" than he did since landing on the injured list June 13, but the right-hander has yet to resume throwing, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.
Martinez wasn't willing to officially rule Strasburg out for the season, but the 34-year-old's lack of recent throwing activity along with the Nationals' status as a non-contender makes it highly unlikely that the three-time All-Star will pitch again in 2022. At this stage, Martinez noted that Strasburg is focusing on strengthening his shoulder since being diagnosed with a stress reaction of his ribs two and a half months ago, according to Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com. Since Strasburg won't require another procedure to address his latest injury after he previously underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last July, the Nationals are seemingly optimistic that he'll be a full participant for the start of spring training.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Likely done for 2022
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Strasburg (ribs) isn't expected to return to action in 2022 after the Nationals transferred him to the 60-day injured list last week, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Strasburg is eligible to come off the IL in mid-August, but the Nationals -- who headed into the All-Star break with an MLB-worst 31-63 record -- don't seem to have much motivation to rush him back. Though Heyman relays that Strasburg won't require another thoracic syndrome surgery for an injury that is being classified as a stress reaction of the ribs, the issue is considered nerve-related, so the non-contending Nationals are likely to take precaution with the veteran right-hander. Since re-signing on a seven-year, $245 million contract after helping lead Washington to its first World Series title in 2019, Strasburg has made only eight starts for the club.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Shifts to 60-day IL
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The Nationals transferred Strasburg (ribs) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Washington had been vague regarding a possible return timeline for Strasburg since he was deactivated June 14 due to to a stress reaction of his ribs, but the move to the 60-day IL ensures that he'll be out of commission until at least mid-August. The Nationals sit at 30 games under .500 entering Thursday's game against Atlanta, so the organization will have little incentive to rush Strasburg back to the mound, especially after he already missed the first two months of the season while recovering from last July's thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. Anibal Sanchez (neck) was activated from the 60-day IL in a corresponding move and will step into the rotation Thursday for his season debut.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Going back on IL
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Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Strasburg (neck) won't make his next scheduled start Tuesday against Atlanta and will be placed on the 15-day injured list after experiencing renewed discomfort following his between-starts bullpen session, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.
Strasburg will undergo an MRI later Monday as the Nationals look to determine the nature and extent of his setback, but his placement on the IL is most likely linked to his recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome, which kept him sidelined for the first two months of the campaign. After a productive three-start rehab assignment, Strasburg returned to make his season debut in Miami last Thursday, but he was lit up for seven runs on eight hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. The 33-year-old showed diminished velocity in the outing and didn't feel any better in his subsequent side session, so he'll be shut down again as the Nationals look to get him back on track. Washington has yet to announce a replacement in the rotation for Strasburg.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Shelled in return
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Strasburg (0-1) took the loss Thursday in Miami, allowing seven runs on eight hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out five in 4.2 innings.
It was his first major-league start in over a year and one Strasburg would probably like to forget. Five of the eight runs against him came with two outs, including the two-run homer by Jesus Sanchez that ended Strasburg's night in the fifth inning. Nevertheless, the four-time All-Star is back after missing significant time after undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. It was just his eighth start since winning the 2019 World Series Most Valuable Player Award and re-signing with Washington on a seven-year, $245 million contract. Assuming he will take his normal turn in the rotation, Strasburg will likely pitch early next week against Atlanta.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Activated for season debut
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Strasburg (neck) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of his start against the Marlins on Thursday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander threw 83 pitches over six scoreless innings during his final rehab start Friday, and he's now back on the active roster for his 2022 debut Thursday in Miami. Strasburg has made only seven starts over the past two years while dealing with injuries, and he's likely to face at least some workload restrictions in his first outing of the season.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Making 2022 debut Thursday
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Strasburg (neck) will start Thursday's game in Miami, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com
Strasburg was considered a strong candidate to start Thursday's matchup since he threw a bullpen session Monday, and manager Dave Martinez officially confirmed Tuesday that the right-hander will make his season debut during Thursday's series finale against the Marlins. Strasburg also battled injuries in 2020 and 2021, and he made just seven starts during that time, posting a 5.74 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 26.2 innings.
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Nationals' Stephen Strasburg: Slated to throw bullpen Monday
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Strasburg (neck) will throw a bullpen session Monday, which would likely put him in line to start Thursday against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Strasburg threw six scoreless innings during a rehab start at Triple-A Rochester on Friday and appears to be on track to rejoin the Nationals' rotation this week. Washington hasn't yet announced a starter for Thursday's matchup in Miami, but the right-hander will likely take the mound as long as he feels good following Monday's bullpen.
