Nationals cancel Strasburg retirement news conference

Stephen Strasburg. Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports

Nationals abruptly cancel Stephen Strasburg retirement news conference

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 9/7/23

The Washington Nationals were supposed to hold a news conference for 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg on Saturday to make his retirement official.

It was only a few weeks ago that Strasburg had decided to step away from baseball due to a severe nerve issue that has prevented him from pitching this season.

But now that retirement news conference is now being canceled as the team and Strasburg are now stuck in a contract dispute, according to a report from The Athletic on Thursday.

Strasburg signed a massive seven-year, $245 million contract with the Nationals following the team's World Series win (where he was named Series MVP), but injuries limited him to just eight starts in the four seasons since.

When it became apparent that his career was in jeopardy, the Nationals approached Strasburg this season about retiring and, according to The Athletic, offered to pay him the full amount of his remaining contract.

They have apparently decided to change those terms.

It was the Nationals who approached Strasburg about retiring and paying him the full amount of his contract, sources briefed on the matter say. The team wants to change the terms. https://t.co/gm6tz3fZE9
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) September 7, 2023

The Nationals reportedly had no insurance on his contract.

It's a tough situation for Strasburg and a bad look for the Nationals. Strasburg didn't do anything wrong in this situation except have a body that did not cooperate with him. If the Nationals approached him with an offer to pay out the full term of his contract — a contract that they offered him and that Strasburg did nothing to violate — it is strange to see them come back and try to change those terms. Cancelling his retirement ceremony also comes across as petty.

Injuries were a constant problem for Strasburg during his career, but when he was healthy, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball. Along with the World Series ring and MVP, he also appeared in three All-Star Games in his career.

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