The Nationals have now chimed in about the drama surrounding Stephen Strasburg’s retirement.
After the Washington Post reported that Strasburg, 35, planned to hang up his spikes, his purported retirement plans hit a surprising snag on Thursday when it was reported that the Nationals had canceled his retirement ceremony and attempted to restructure his contract.
Strasburg has pitched just 31 1/3 innings since he signed a seven-year, $245 million contract after the 2019 season, with a plethora of injuries preventing his return.
“Stephen Strasburg is and always will be an important part of the Nationals franchise. We support him in any decision that he makes and will ensure that he receives what is due to him,” team owner Mark Lerner said in a statement.
“It is regrettable that private discussions have been made public through anonymous sources attempting to negotiate through the media,” Lerner said.
“While we have been following the process required by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, behind-the-scenes preparations for a press conference had begun internally. However, no such event was ever confirmed by the team or promoted publicly. It is unfortunate that external leaks in the press have mischaracterized these events.
“It is our hope that ongoing conversations remain private out of respect for the individuals involved,” Lerner said. “Until then, we look forward to seeing Stephen when we report to Spring Training.”
Strasburg still has three years and $105 million remaining on his contract, with deferred payments extending until 2029.
The right-hander, a former No. 1 overall prospect and 2019 World Series MVP, made multiple attempts to return this season but couldn’t make any real progress.
Strasburg, who last pitched in June 2022, is reportedly suffering from “extreme nerve damage.”
“Every time I’ve had an injury, I felt like I was going to be the best there is coming back,” he said in an interview with the Washington Post last September.
“This is the one that’s still definitely a big question mark. I realize the clock is ticking.”