Washington Nationals Reverse Decision on Stephen Strasburg’s Retirement

What was supposed to be a well-planned retirement for Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg has taken an unexpected turn. Just 14 days after announcing his intention to retire, Strasburg received surprising news from the Nationals organization: they were backing out of the deal.

Initially, Strasburg had planned to hold a formal retirement ceremony at Nationals Park, complete with a lavish press conference. A uniform retirement ceremony was even scheduled for next year. However, two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions revealed that the Nationals informed Strasburg and his representatives on Thursday that these plans were no longer in motion.

The original agreement had stipulated that Strasburg would retire with his hefty seven-year, $245 million contract intact, with $105 million still owed to him in deferred payments through 2029. The Nationals, who had initially proposed the retirement idea, provided no explanation for their change of heart, according to the sources, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the situation.

Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo weighed in on the matter, saying, “He signed a seven-year deal, he’s got (3.5) years left on the deal, and he’ll get paid for those four years on the deal until he makes a decision on what his future’s going to be.”

Despite Strasburg’s absence from the pitcher’s mound since June 2022, due to surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in 2021, he will remain on the Nationals’ roster. This means he can still access his locker, utilize the team’s training facility, and even potentially participate in spring training come February.

This unexpected reversal is seen as the Nationals’ latest move to cut down on their payroll. They recently informed at least 10 scouts that their contracts would not be renewed, and assistant GM Johnny DiPuglia resigned when his salary was slated for a reduction. Additionally, the team has yet to finalize a contract extension for Rizzo, whose current contract expires after this season.

Strasburg, the first overall draft pick in 2009, had an impressive career with the Nationals, boasting a record of 113-62 with a 3.24 ERA. He earned the title of World Series MVP in 2019, winning both of his starts against the Houston Astros with a 2.51 ERA. However, injuries frequently plagued his 13-year career, and he made at least 30 starts in a season only three times.

Notably, the Nationals did not secure an insurance policy to cover Strasburg’s contract.