The Washington Nationals selected starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft. After 132 starts and a 3.09 ERA with the Nats in six MLB seasons, rumors indicate the two sides won't be discussing a contract extension as the right-hander heads into his final year with the club.
"Strasburg's agent, Scott Boras, confirmed to FOX Sports on Monday that the sides aren't in active talks about a contract extension as spring training begins," writes FOX Sports' Jon Morosi. "It's highly unlikely that will change before the season is over."
"We amicably agreed to a one-year deal (for 2016)," Boras told Morosi. "He's going to pitch, and we'll see where it goes from there. It's something we'll be discussing at the end of the year."
Strasburg, 27, figures to be the best available free agent that after the 2016 season. Rumors have long suggested the Nationals and Strasburg were likely going to part ways once the right-hander hit free agency, although the reasons haven't been entirely clear.
Strasburg was limited to 17 starts in his first two seasons (2010, 2011) mainly due to a torn UCL in 2011, which required Tommy John surgery. However, the right-hander stormed back in 2012 to earn his first All-Star honors after going 15-6 with a 3.16 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 197 strikeouts in 28 starts. Overall, he's 54-37 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 901 strikeouts in 776-2/3 innings, but his less-than-stellar 2015 campaign has caused a stir among the fan base.
It's also unknown if the club is going to exercise Gio Gonzalez's $12 million team option for 2017, so big changes could be on the way in the nation's capital.
Washington's rotation is seemingly set up nicely for the future, as Max Scherzer figures to be the team's ace for a good while. If Strasburg and Gonzalez are gone next year, the rotation could consist of youngsters Joe Ross, Lucas Giolito, A.J. Cole and Tanner Roark moving forward (although that is far from definite).
However, it makes perfect sense if the team is prepping to sign Bryce Harper to a mammoth contract extension because those four young pitchers who are under club control for a good while won't cost the team much money. Rumors have suggested Harper could land a contract between $400-$500 million.
Still, it's fairly bizarre as to why the Nationals seemingly have no interest in extending Strasburg right now. He's been largely effective during his time with the club, and depending on his 2016 campaign, he's probably not going to land a David Price- or Clayton Kershaw-type contract considering he's averaged just 22 starts per season since making his MLB debut in 2010.
Then again, he is a client of Scott Boras, so it's possible he'll be shooting for the stars once he hits the open market.
