According to an ESPN report citing “sources familiar with the situation,” World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg will opt out of his contract with the Nationals and become a free agent.
The 31-year-old pitcher, who won 18 games in the regular season as well as two key World Series games, had four years and $100 million remaining on the $175 million, seven-year deal he signed with the Nationals in 2016. He’s fresh off of an incredible playoff run, where he became the first pitcher in major league history to win five games in a single postseason without a loss and struck out 47 batters, posting a 1.98 ERA.
Of course, Strasburg’s free agency doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll wind up leaving the Nationals, but if he does, it’ll be a significant blow to a team that will already likely look different next season after Washington turned down options on first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and catcher Yan Gomes.
Strasburg, like Gerrit Cole — who is also expected to earn a massive new contract as a free agent in the offseason — is represented by Scott Boras. They enter a free agent market that already includes some big-name starters like Cole Hamels, Madison Bumgarner, Zack Wheeler, Dallas Keuchel, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rick Porcello.
Strasburg’s injury history could impact the size and scope of the deal he gets; he’s been on the disabled list at some point during seven of his 10 seasons in the big leagues.
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