The retirement of pitcher Stephen Strasburg (36), who won the MVP award by leading the Washington Nationals to its first World Series championship in 2019, has finally been confirmed. Although he has three more years to sign this year, he officially retired on the condition that he receives a total of 105 million dollars in annual salary.
Washington officially announced Strasburg’s retirement on Tuesday (Korea Standard Time). The team announced Strasburg’s retirement through the player’s transfer on Tuesday, and the announcement was made on the day. Strasburg said in a statement, “Today, I am announcing my retirement from the game I love. I tried to return as a pitcher, but I realized that I could no longer play at the Major League level due to my injury.”
“When I was young, all I dreamed of was to win the World Series. That dream came true in 2019 thanks to coaches, teammates, and medical staff. It was a personal goal, but I learned how important and special it was for the fans of the DMV (Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia). There were many ups and downs, but you gave me your constant support and you will always mean a lot to me,” he said thanking the fans.
Strasburg also said, “I would like to thank the late owner Ted Runner and his family. Although I couldn’t play more games, I feel comforted that I gave everything for the only team I know. I was very lucky to have experienced a baseball journey in Washington, and I am blessed.”
“We are grateful for everything Strasburg has done for Washington. It has been an honor to see him grow as a player and as a human being throughout his illustrious career. He has given us countless memories in our hearts that will live forever. No one can dispute his impact on our organization. He has placed us as world champions and changed the face of our franchise. Thank you for everything, and congratulations on your incredible career.”
Strasburg announced her retirement on Aug. 25 last year and was guaranteed a retirement ceremony in 2024. There were talks of a permanent absence number 37, but the decision was made only two days before the scheduled retirement press conference on Sept. 10. When Washington changed its position without giving a direct explanation, Strasburg protested. The two sides remained undecided even after the year passed, and Strasburg did not show up at Washington’s spring training for two consecutive years, but reached an agreement to officially retire only after the season opened.
Strasburg is guaranteed the remaining salary of $105 million for three years, including this year. However, it is a condition that 11.4 million dollars of the 35 million dollars annual salary will be paid later until 2029. When Strasburg first signed a seven-year, $245 million contract with Washington in December 2019, she agreed to receive 80 million dollars later between 2027 and 2029, which she will also receive. In 2029, she will receive an additional interest of 3.9 million dollars. 고소득알바
If a player voluntarily retires before the end of his contract in the Major League, he cannot receive the full amount of his annual salary, but baseball-related injuries are an exception. Washington, which failed to insure him at the time of his contract, has to bear the full amount of his annual salary. In return for not conceding a penny, Strasburg will not be able to enjoy the honor of retirement ceremony or permanent absence that his club had originally planned.
Strasburg was a star player representing Washington. Having been selected by Washington as the first overall pick in the first round of the 2009 draft and noted as a 100-mile fireballer, Strasburg grew up under special management by his club. After joining the team, he underwent Tommy John surgery in his elbow and rehabilitated, and although his team advanced to the postseason in 2012, he did not play in the fall baseball due to limited innings.
Strasburg, who was selected three times as an All-Star by ranking first in strikeouts (242) in the National League in 2014 and first in multiple wins (18 wins) in the NL in 2019, led the team to its first World Series title in 2019 by pitching perfectly with five wins and an ERA of 1.98 in six postseason games (five starts, 34 ⅓ innings). He won Game 2 of the World Series (two runs in six innings) and Game 5 (two runs in eight ⅓) to win the MVP title.
Strasburg became a free agent through opt-out after the season and remained in Washington D.C. on a seven-year, $245 million contract. At the same time, he was treated the best as the second-ranked pitcher in the history of pitchers after Gerrit Cole (nine years, 324 million dollars), who transferred to the New York Yankees as a free agent, but nobody knew it would be the worst contract in history.
Since the first year of his contract in 2020, he has been out for the first time in two games due to carpal tunnel syndrome, and in 2021, he played five games due to overlapping shoulder and neck pain, ending the season in early June. After suffering from thoracic collision syndrome, he rehabilitated for a year after undergoing surgery to remove ribs and neck muscles, but on June 10, 2022, against Miami Marlis (seven runs in four ⅔) became the last game of his career. He could no longer throw the ball because he had a problem with the nervous system in the same area while pitching in the bullpen ahead of his next appearance.
In an interview with the Washington Post in September that year, Strasburg expressed despair, saying, “It’s been almost three years since I threw competitively. Time goes by, and I’m not getting younger. I don’t know what my future holds.” The aftereffects of the injury lasted so long that he was uncomfortable in his daily life, as he showed signs of paralysis while standing, and he was effectively ruled out of his capacity from last year. The doctor dissuaded Strasburg, saying, “If I throw the ball again, I’ll just get hurt.”
After renewing his contract with Washington for seven years, Strasburg ended up with one win and four losses with a 6.89 ERA in eight games (31 ⅓ innings) over the three years between 2020 and 2022. Although he won the title before signing the FA contract, his career collapsed dramatically. Due to conflict with his club during his retirement process, he did not look smooth until the end. He will remain in the Major League history as a free-body player.