The Washington Nationals are keeping their World Series MVP on a major deal, although, this may mean that Anthony Rendon will be playing elsewhere next season. At the recent Winter Meetings this week, the defending World Series Champions gave starter Stephen Strasburg a seven-year contract that is worth $245 million. At the time, this set a new high for a pitcher's contract, beating out David Price's $217 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. Although, former Houston Astros hurler Gerrit Cole has since broken that record with the New York Yankees.
This contract also has the highest annual average, beating out Zack Greinke's $31.5 million per season, which was signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and picked up in the trade to the Astros. The contract for Strasburg also includes $80 million in deferred money, which is payable form 2028 to 2030.
Strasburg's agreement comes after he decided to opt out of the final four years of his previous deal, which led many to believe that he wanted to play somewhere else. That thought was also enhanced when the team made an offer to Rendon near the end of the season. The right-hander is coming off a season where he set a career high with 18 wins and led the National League with 209 innings pitched.
That success, which is all post Tommy John Surgery for him, continued in to the Postseason, as he became the first pitcher to win five games in a single Postseason. He also struck out 47 batters, which was good for second all time, only behind Curt Schilling, who had 56 in 2001 with the Diamondbacks. In six Postseason appearances, he posted a 1.98 ERA and got two wins over the Astros in the World Series. The 31-year-old was named the MVP after the team's first World Series win in franchise history. He was the first pitcher since Matt Harvey in 2015 to go at least eight innings in a World Series start, all of which proved to the Nats that the former top overall pick may be healthy enough to finally be their face for years to come.
This contract also has the highest annual average, beating out Zack Greinke's $31.5 million per season, which was signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and picked up in the trade to the Astros. The contract for Strasburg also includes $80 million in deferred money, which is payable form 2028 to 2030.
Strasburg's agreement comes after he decided to opt out of the final four years of his previous deal, which led many to believe that he wanted to play somewhere else. That thought was also enhanced when the team made an offer to Rendon near the end of the season. The right-hander is coming off a season where he set a career high with 18 wins and led the National League with 209 innings pitched.
That success, which is all post Tommy John Surgery for him, continued in to the Postseason, as he became the first pitcher to win five games in a single Postseason. He also struck out 47 batters, which was good for second all time, only behind Curt Schilling, who had 56 in 2001 with the Diamondbacks. In six Postseason appearances, he posted a 1.98 ERA and got two wins over the Astros in the World Series. The 31-year-old was named the MVP after the team's first World Series win in franchise history. He was the first pitcher since Matt Harvey in 2015 to go at least eight innings in a World Series start, all of which proved to the Nats that the former top overall pick may be healthy enough to finally be their face for years to come.
