Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg announced last month that he will be stepping away from baseball after injuries plagued him for the past couple of years. He was supposed to have a retirement ceremony on Saturday held by the Nationals, but that will no longer be happening.
Strasburg was in the midst of a massive guaranteed contract with the Nationals at the time of his retirement.
The Nationals had originally agreed to pay Strasburg the remainder of his seven-year $245 deal after his retirement, of which they still owe him $105 million.
But it seems like they are now trying to back out of that agreement. It has now been reported that the Nationals now want to change their terms about his remaining contract. And they canceled his scheduled retirement press conference as a result, according to Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic.
It was the Nationals who approached Strasburg about retiring and paying him the full amount of his contract, sources briefed on the matter say. The team wants to change the terms. https://t.co/gm6tz3fZE9
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) September 7, 2023
Perhaps even worse is that the Nationals were the ones who approached Strasburg about potentially retiring. And now that he finally did, they don’t want to honor their agreement with him.
Strasburg is one of the most beloved players in team history after his huge role in the 2019 World Series Championship for the Nationals, in which he was named World Series MVP.
Fans took exception to how the organization is treating him after his retirement considering all he has done for the organization over the years.
The Nats deferring a retirement ceremony is on brand https://t.co/Ji1nsaqGzs
— Franzke & LA (@FranzkeLA) September 7, 2023
The Nationals have shut down Strasburg's number retirement for the rest of the season. https://t.co/tRjsaCtjiK
— Dilan Esper (@dilanesper) September 7, 2023
W/o Snyder, there needed to be a new awful owner in DC. #Nats Sheesh. This is Angelos-like. https://t.co/w8aMWl2jKM
— Matt Swenson (@Swengali) September 7, 2023
Going to assume this about the Nationals not wanting to pay whatever retirement figure they settled on. Nasty franchise https://t.co/nHR5JdXaVT
— Jake Rose (@jakerose_22) September 7, 2023
👀 are the Nationals going back on the terms of Strasburg retirement buyout? https://t.co/3e8j0QzQSD
— Gunz (@TheGunzShow) September 7, 2023
Hopefully, the Nationals rethink their decision and give Strasburg the retirement ceremony that he deserves.
