In late August, Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg contemplated retirement without holding a news conference. Despite having three seasons left on a seven-year, $245 million contract, Strasburg had been sidelined since June 2022 due to career-altering injuries. The Nationals indicated in September that they anticipated his return at spring training, although Strasburg did not report to their training facility in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Strasburg’s presence on the roster primarily impacts a protected spot for the Rule 5 draft in December. He is owed $35 million annually, with a portion of the amount deferred at a 1% interest rate. The deferred payments are scheduled to be made in equal installments on July 1 in 2027, 2028, and 2029, with an additional interest payment due on December 31, 2029. Negotiating a retirement agreement might involve restructuring the money owed to Strasburg.
In addition to Strasburg’s situation, the Nationals made other roster moves by selecting the contracts of Matt Barnes, Derek Law, Eddie Rosario, and Jesse Winker from Triple-A Rochester. Barnes, Rosario, and Winkler will each earn $2 million salaries while in the major leagues, while Law will receive $1.5 million. Meanwhile, Cade Cavalli (recovering from Tommy John surgery), Mason Thompson (suffering from a left lat strain), and Jose Ferrer (suffering from a left lat strain) were placed on the 60-day injured list. Outfielder Stone Garrett was also placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to March 25 as he recovers from left ankle reconstruction surgery.
The Nationals are now faced with making tough decisions about their roster as they navigate through this season without one of their star players. However, they continue to look towards spring training and hope that Strasburg returns healthy and ready to contribute once again for years to come.
The Nationals have struggled with injuries throughout recent seasons but have found success through strong performances from their young prospects such as Cavalli and Thompson who are both recovering from surgeries that could impact their careers long term.
As for Strasburg’s future with the team beyond this season remains uncertain but negotiations about his contract could potentially open up opportunities for other free agents or trades that could help fill out their current roster needs.
Overall it’s clear that this season will be challenging for the Nationals but they continue to push forward with hope that everyone stays healthy and contributes towards making it back into postseason play once again.
