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An ugly situation is brewing between Stephen Strasbourg and the Nationals.
It was reported in August that the 35-year-old pitcher was considering retirement after a litany of injuries limited him to just 31 1/3 innings since signing a seven-year contract worth of $245 million at the end of 2019.
Strasbourg had a retirement ceremony scheduled for next Saturday, but it was canceled by the Nationals, The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli reported.
“It was the Nationals who approached Strasbourg to ask him to retire and pay him the full amount of his contract, say sources familiar with the matter. The team wants to change the terms”, Ghiroli tweeted.
Strasbourg, who is represented by super-agent Scott Boras, was arrested by the Nationals last June due to what was reported as “serious nerve damage”.
The pitcher had tried to come back this season, but any progress was thwarted by pain.
The Washington Post reported that there were three times last winter in which Strasbourg had a bullpen session that ended in pain in his right side.
Strasbourg’s last start was in June 2022 against the Marlins. He threw 83 pitches in 4 2/3 innings, while giving up seven runs on eight hits.
Nevertheless, Strasbourg felt at the time that this was a step in the positive direction.
“It was good and I’m excited to learn from it and go back for the next one,” Strasbourg said after that game, according to The Associated Press.
“The mastery of fastball could have been better in some places. I felt the change was working pretty well. All in all, it’s a starting point and trying to build from that.
Strasbourg has made just eight starts since his exploits helped the Nationals win the 2019 World Series.
The three-time All-Star was the 2019 World Series MVP, winning both of his starts against the Houston Astros and posting a 2.51 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings pitched.
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