According to multiple sources, the winter meetings have started with a bang. The Washington Nationals have agreed to a deal to keep one of their superstar pitchers for the long term, agreeing to terms with Stephen Strasburg for a reported 7 years and $245 million. Jon Heyman was the first to report the deal.
Finishing 2019 near or at the top of nearly every significant pitching stat, the only thing keeping Strasburg from being the premiere pitcher on the market this offseason was a guy named Gerrit Cole. After exercising his opt out clause, speculation about his future landing spot started to fly, but Strasburg evidently returned to the only team he’s ever known.
Strasburg’s signing further adds to the notion of this offseason being a “player’s market” as multiple big name free agents have already agreed to deals after last year saw Manny Machado and Bryce Harper not sign until the new year. The deal creates a new landmark deal for pitchers, as the Nationals gave Strasburg both the largest overall value for a pitcher as well as the highest average annual value at $35 million per year (AAV).
The Nationals have found a way to keep their Big 3 of Scherzer, Strasburg, and Corbin, but now will almost certainly lose Anthony Rendon to free agency. It remains to be seen where Rendon will end up, but the Nats have kept their World Series MVP home for years to come.
