Washington Nationals reportedly sign Stephen Strasburg to 7-year/$245M contract...

While there had been multiple reports of the Washington Nationals’ belief that a new deal with Stephen Strasburg seemed more likely than one with fellow free agent Anthony Rendon, a tweet from Ken Rosenthal this afternoon suggested that the Nats and the 2019 World Series MVP had actually made progress on a contract that would keep him with the only team he’s ever known.

Shortly after that initial report, multiple sources have confirmed that Strasburg and the Nats have agreed on a seven-year deal that ESPN’s Jeff Passan writes will be worth, “... more than $220 million,” and more writers have since confirmed it’s a 7-year/$245M deal.

Strasburg opted out of the final four years and $100M left on a seven-year/$175M extension he signed with the Nationals in May of 2016 to test the free agent market after a dominant postseason run that ended with the 31-year-old, ‘09 No. 1 overall pick being named the Most Valuable Player of the Fall Classic.

Strasburg was (5-0) with a 1.98 ERA, four walks, 47 Ks, and a .221/.239/.368 line against in six games, five starts, and 36 1⁄3 IP in the postseason after a 2019 campaign which ended with the right-hander (18-6) with a 3.32 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 56 walks, 251 Ks, and a .210/.271/.349 line against in 33 starts and 209 IP.

According to subsequent reports, the terms of the deal are in fact seven years and $245M, for an average annual value of $35M per year, though the details of the contract are just coming out now. We’ll have more information and analysis on the new agreement when it is made available, and likely have comments from GM Mike Rizzo after he speaks to reporters at the Winter Meetings this afternoon.

For now we know Strasburg will be back in D.C. in 2020 and beyond, and the chatter about the Nationals’ belief he would return was apparently well-founded...

UPDATES:

Info on deferred money in the deal: