By Damon Knight, Tribune Correspondent
The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with free-agent pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg, 31, signed a 7-year, $245M deal to stay in Washington D.C. With this deal, he officially becomes the highest-paid pitcher in the history of baseball. The previous pitcher to grace this luxury deal was fellow ace, David Price who signed a 7-year, $215M deal with the Boston Red Sox. In addition, Strasburg passed pitcher Zack Greinke for the highest annual average value. If you are wondering what that is it’s, $31.5 million.
However, this feat may not last for along as reigning Cy Young candidate Gerrit Cole is still awaiting his free-agent deal. They say the deal to be, $280-$300M for 8-years. Meanwhile, Nationals owner Mark D. Lerner said this about the re-signing pitcher Stephen Strasburg, “We are very excited to welcome Stephen Strasburg and his family back to the Washington Nationals,” Nationals owner Mark D. Lerner said in a statement. “His tremendous talent, work ethic, and leadership have been a staple of our organization since the day we selected him in the 2009 MLB Draft. We would not have won the World Series or accomplished everything we have these last 10 seasons if not for Stephen’s many contributions.”
Strasburg won a career-high 18 games this season, mustering the most innings pitched in the National League with 209. He would continue his dominance in the playoffs by rattling off 5 straight wins with no loses. He’s also tied for the second-most strikeouts in a single postseason at 47. Curt Schilling had 56 in 2001. And to add more to Strasburg’s glamorous year, he posted an ERA of 1.98 in six appearances overall. Two of those six appearances were against the Houston Astros in the World Series which he won and capped it all off with a World Series MVP. Strasburg was the first pitcher ever to do as a former No. 1 overall pick. According to statements around the MLB, if Strasburg continues to pitch like this later in his 30s, given his current contract, he’s a surefire candidate for the Hall of Fame.
