Washington Nationals' '09 no.1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg avoided arbitration and signed a 1-year/$7.4M last winter, coming off a 4.4 fWAR campaign in 2014 which saw the right-handed starter go (14-11) with a 3.14 ERA, a 2.94 FIP, 43 walks (1.80 BB/9) and 242 Ks (10.13 K/9) in 34 games and 215 innings pitched.
After struggling following an ankle injury sustained during a workout in Spring Training that the Nats believe led to back issues and altered mechanics which caused Strasburg to struggle throughout the first few months of the 2015 season, he finished strong, putting up a 1.90 ERA, a 2.09 FIP, eight walks (1.09 BB/9) and 92 Ks (12.48 K/9) over his final 66 ⅓ IP.
Strasburg finished his sixth major league season at 3.4 fWAR, going (11-7) in 23 starts with a 3.46 ERA, a 2.82 FIP, 26 walks (1.84 BB/9) and 155 Ks (10.96 K/9) in 127 ⅓ innings pitched overall, over which he held opposing hitters to a combined .233/.278/.375 line.
According to reports this afternoon by CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman and MLB.com's Bill Ladson, Strasburg, now 27, received a raise from the $7.4M he made last season to $10.4M when he and the Nationals avoided arbitration and agreed on the one-year deal which was announced today. The Nationals have not yet confirmed the deal.
MLBTraderumors.com projected a $10.5M salary:
Stephen strasburg, nats settle at $10.4M
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 15, 2016
.@Nationals, Stephen Strasburg avoid arbitration with 1-year, $10.4M deal, per @washingnats. Club hasn’t confirmed. pic.twitter.com/tITVzKSfyQ
— MLB (@MLB) January 15, 2016
Strasburg could be heading into his final season in the nation's capital. The top pick of the 2009 Draft is set to become a free agent next winter if he and the Nationals can't agree on a long-term deal before then.
GM Mike Rizzo was asked in December if the Nationals would try to sign the righty to an extension before he hits what looks like a relatively weak the free agent market.
"We've always tried to think about our core players, to extend them to contracts," Rizzo told reporters at the Winter Meetings.
"We tried it with several of the players that have left us for free agency in the past. I would conceive we would do the same for him."
Strasburg said he won't let the fact that he might be preparing for his final season in D.C. distract him.
I've found with pitching that I pitch better, I don't stress out as much, if I just focus on the now," he explained.
"I went into this game, as a kid, wanting to play the game because I loved to play, because I'm competitive, because I want to win.
"With this team, we have, obviously, the potential to win and do a lot of good things, so I'm just going to focus on that and winning cures a lot of things, so I'm just going to do everything in my power to get better and help this team win some games and when the time comes to make decisions, it will happen."