After nearly a year of speculation, Stephen Strasburg is officially retiring. The 2019 World Series MVP reached a settlement agreement with the Washington Nationals, allowing him to put the glove up for good.
“Today I am announcing my retirement from the game I love,” Strasburg said in a statement. “I realized after repeated attempts to return to pitching injuries no longer allow me to perform at a Major League level.”
Strasburg played all 13 seasons with the Nationals after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft out of San Diego State.
Strasburg signified the Nationals’ emergence, culminating with a World Series title in 2019. The right-handed ace was phenomenal during that run. He recorded a perfect 5-0 record and posted a 1.98 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings during the 2019 postseason run.
“As a young kid, all I dreamt about was winning a World Series,” Strasburg continued in his retirement announcement. “Thanks to the many coaches, teammates, and medical staff, my boyhood dream came true in 2019. Despite this being a personal goal of mine, I’ve come to realize how truly important and special that moment was for so many fans in the DMV> Your unwavering support through all the ups and downs will always mean the world to me.”
Strasburg’s career had incomplete moments along the way. His pitching talent was on display more often than naught. However, the rash of injuries certainly blemished an unpolished resume.
Agreement allows Stephen Strasburg to retire and keep his money
His setbacks included Tommy John surgery in 2011. The infamous 2012 shutdown ahead of the Nationals’ first postseason run. There were other injuries along the way. But his most recent holdup led to nerve damage.
After winning the 2019 season, Strasburg inked a seven-year, $245 million contract, a considerable reward for his contributions during the magic year. Unfortunately, Strasburg pitched in a combined 31 1/3 innings over the next three years.
Nerve damage in his pitching arm and shoulder led to multiple surgeries. He underwent carpal tunnel surgery in 2020. The following year, he had season-ending thoracic outlet surgery. The Nats shut him down in 2022 after one start due to a stress reaction in his ribs related to his surgery the previous year. Strasburg looked to return in 2023 but suffered another setback ahead of spring training.
Strasburg appeared ready to retire last August. A press conference was reportedly scheduled. However, discrepancies about his contract surfaced. Nats GM Mike Rizzo hinted at the club withholding future money from Strasburg if he retired.
Nats principal owner Mark Lerner stated his angst about how negotiations with Strasburg became public. Lerner hoped talks could continue in private until then the Nationals expected to see the 35-year-old at spring training this year.
Strasburg remained absent from spring training, and the club placed him on the 60-day injured list, as his retirement remained in limbo.
Sunday’s announcement confirmed the agreement.
According to Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic, Strasburg’s total contract value had no deduction from the agreement. Some of the money gets deferred. However, Rizzo declined to get into the specifics of financial settlement.
“It wasn’t a matter of if. It was a matter of just when we can get this thing finished,” Rizzo said, per Bobby Blanco of MASN Sports. “He’s part of the furniture here. He always will be. We just want him to be happy.”
Strasburg finishes his career with 113 wins in 247 starts. He recorded 1,723 strikeouts, threw two complete games, and posted a 3.24 ERA.
