Fact Check: Are the Nationals refusing to pay $110,000,000 to Stephen Strasburg? Retiring star's exit hits snag

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg announced his retirement two weeks ago. He was shut down from all baseball activities in June with severe nerve damage and decided it was time.

While Strasburg never made an official announcement, the Nationals were set to have a press conference on September 9 to honor his career. Unfortunately, that ceremony will not happen as Strasburg and the organization disagree over the money he is owed.

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Initially, the Nationals agreed to pay Stephen Strasburg $110 million, the remainder of his contract. For whatever reason, they have had a change of heart and are seeking to change the terms of his retirement.

Washington did not give Strasburg or his team of representatives a reason for their sudden change of heart. This situation could get a lot worse before anything gets resolved.

If it were not for injuries, Stephen Strasburg may have been one of the best

Stephen Strasburg was one of the more-hyped prospects in the league at the time he was making his start. He was selected as the first overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals. When healthy, he was feared on the mound.

Strasburg was a three-time All-Star and helped the Nationals win the 2019 World Series. He was the World Series MVP and signed a seven-year, $245 million contract after that.

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Unfortunately, Strasburg has pitched in only eight games since coming off that World Series victory in 2019. He had surgery to correct carpal tunnel neuritis; the following season, he was dealing with a shoulder injury. This last season, he has been dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome, for which he has undergone surgery.

Injuries over his career have plagued Strasburg. There is no telling the career he would have had if he had been able to stay healthy.

About the author

Jared "Bloomy" Bloom is a journalist covering Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda and a former college baseball pitcher from Illinois, who just graduated with a Master's degree in Sport Psychology.

A writer with over 3 years of experience, Jared is consistently more concerned with quality than quantity, thoroughly checking multiple sources of information, and prides himself in being knowledgeable not just about MLB, but the game of baseball in general. He loves breaking down plays and game-changing moments, as well as looking closer into players' statistics.

Jared is a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan, and one of his earliest memories is seeing his great-grandfather, a huge Sox fan, in his rocking chair watching a game. Jared started playing from the age of 5 with his grandfather coaching him early on.

Jared loved Tim Lincecum for his quirky delivery and looked up to him as a role model when playing. His current favorite is Phillies star Bryce Harper, an exciting player who doesn't let injuries hold him back. Jared's favorite sports moment is Mark Buehrle's opening day between-the-legs glove flip to first base in 2010.

When he is not watching or writing about baseball, Jared can be found racing BMX at his local Rockford BMX track or coaching his local youth travel baseball team.

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Edited by Jared "Bloomy" Bloom