Stephen Strasburg Not Expected To Return This Season

Stephen Strasburg hasn't pitched in over a month, and the Nationals transferred him to the 60-day injured list last week. Headlines Manfred:MLBPlansToRecognizeMLBPA’sRepresentationOfMinorLeaguePlayers DetailsOnBonusPoolForPre-ArbitrationPlayers MLBToImplementPitchClock,LimitDefensiveShiftsBeginningIn2023 CompetitionCommitteeToVoteOnSeveralRuleChangesFor2023Season RangersToPromoteJoshJung MetsPlaceMaxScherzerOn15-DayInjuredList Previous Next Register Login HoopsRumorsProFootballRumorsProHockeyRumors GoTo ProHockeyRumors GoTo HoopsRumors StephenStrasburghasn’tpitchedinoveramonth,andtheNationalstransferredhimtothe60-dayinjuredlistlastweek.Thatofficiallyruledhimoutuntilmid-August,andJonHeymanoftheNewYorkPostreportsthathe’slikelytomisstheremainderofthe2022seasondealingwithanerveissue. It’snotahugesurprise,astheNatshavepreviouslysuggestedtheyfearedhe’ssufferedarecurrenceofthethoracicoutletsyndromethatcuthis2021campaignshort.ThatnecessitatedsurgerylastJuly,althoughHeymanwritesthatStrasburgfortunatelywillnotneedtoundergoanotherprocedure.Nevertheless,itseemsevenanon-surgicalrehabwon’taffordtheveteranrightyanopportunitytomakeitbacktothemoundthisyear. It’sthethirdconsecutivelostseasonforStrasburg,whohasbeenlimitedtoeightappearancessincethe2019campaignwrappedup.Hemissedmostoftheabbreviated2020seasonduetocarpaltunnelsyndrome.Afterpitchingjusttwicethatyear,hemadefivestartsbeforebeingshutdownbyTOSlastseason.Strasburgspentabout11monthsworkinghiswaybacktothebigleagues,returningfora42/3-inningagainsttheMarlinsonJune9.Whilehecameoutofthatstartfeelingfine,hesufferedrenewedribdiscomfortduringabullpensessionafewdayslater. InjuriestoStrasburgareamongthereasonsthepastthreeseasonshaveplayedoutdisastrouslyfortheNationals.Thethree-timeAll-Starwasinpeakformin2019,tossing209inningsof3.32ERAballduringtheregularseason.Hecontinuedtoshineduringthepostseason,helpingtheNatstoachampionshipandwinningWorldSeriesMVPhonors.Washingtonkepthimaroundonaseven-year,$245MMfreeagentcontracttheensuingwinter. WhileitwaseasytounderstandtheNationals’desiretokeepStrasburgaroundcomingoffsuchanexcellentseason,thatsigninglookslikeanunfortunatemajormisstepinretrospect.Notonlyhavetheinjuriesgenerallykepthimoffthemound,he’slookednothinglikehisoldselfduringhislimitedaction.Strasburgaveragednorthof94MPHonhisfastballin2019,buthe’sworkedinthe90-92MPHrangeoverthepastthreeyears.Coupledwiththe MaxScherzertradeand PatrickCorbin’s massiveperformancedownturn,theexcellenttop-endstartingpitchingthatanchoredtheNatsperennialcontendersofthelastdecadehasabandonedthem.Washington’srotationhasanMLB-worst5.74ERAthroughtheseason’sunofficialfirsthalf. Strasburg,34onWednesday,remainsundercontractforanotherfouryears.He’sdue$35MMannuallythrough2026,althoughagoodportionofthatsalaryisdeferredwithinterest. ViewComments(101) Comments Shocker Reply Worstcontractever? Reply Na,ChrisDavishasthatonelockedupforalongtime. Reply Nah,thisisworse.AtleastDaviswasmargainlyusefulatthestartofthecontract.Strashasbarelyplayedandnotlookedgoodwhenhehas.Thisistheworstcontract. Reply Yep…byamile.Natswereacompetitiveteamatthetimeofhissigning.Strasburgbeinghurtchangedthedirectionofthefranchise. JasonHeywardhasbeenhotgarbageontheCubsfromthemomenttheinkdried. J-HeyoftheCubsonlineonedisagrees… Davishada110OPS+inthefirstyearofhisdeal.Strasledtheleagueinwins(Iknowtheydon’tmatter,butgettingmorethaneveryoneintheleaguestillsayssomething)andfinished5thintheCyYoung.Bothcrappedoutafterthat.IstillgottasayDaviswasworsesimplybecauseinsuranceisprobablypayingabigchunkofStrasburg’sdeal. @Yankees–TheOrioleswerealsoacompetitiveteamatthetimeofthesigning.Easytoforgetthatfinished2ndintheEastin2016.Davisbeingutterlyuselesschangedtheirdirectionaswell. Iagree.Natsknewtheriskgivingthismanthatmuchmoneywhentheydid.IwouldhavesaveditupforHarperbeforehelefttown.JustahorribledecisionbyWASHmanagementtoinvestinaguythathashadinjuryproblemseversincebeingdrafted. @DarkSide830:Nah,theyaredifferent.Strasburgdidn’ttank.Hisfalloffisphysical.TheDavisfalloff,andinbynomeansisthisacriticismtowardsChris,wasnotphysicalbutmental.Hewasveryproductivewhenhissalaryblendedinwithteammates.Whenhegottopdollar,thepressuretoperformwastoooverwhelming.NotallphysicallygiftedathleteshavetheDNAtoperformattherebestwhenthemoneycomestheirway.AndChrisisnotthefirsttosuccumbtothis.Inrecentmemory,AdamDunncomestomindduringhistimewiththeWhiteSoxandCarlCrawfordafterleavingTampaBay.Anyoneagree?Haveotherexamples? Daviswasmargainlyusefulatthestartofthecontract. ================================== Idoubtit.Davishasa-2.7bWARfor$161M. Strasburghasa-.05.sofar. Thedifferencebetweenthetwocontractsis$84M.Using$8MasthecostperWARinfreeagency,Strasburgneedsonly(10.4-2.2)8.2WARoverthenext4years.I’dmakeamodestwagerthathecandoso. Inaddition,theNatsprobablycarrysomeinsuranceonhim.Throwing31.1IPsin3yearsmightgetthemsomereimbursement.Whereasyoucannotbuyinsuranceagainstyourplayersimplysucking. Seethedifferencebetweenawfulcontractsandstrasburgs(atthemoment)isthatpeoplestillwantstrasburgtoplay…speakingasaCubfan,Icouldn’tbehappierthatHeywardisontheIL ThereisstillachancethatStrasburgcanplay.Hespent8yearsasatop-tierpitcher.“If”hecanpitch,he’dprobablybequitegood.GuyslikeHeyward&Daviscouldn’tplayanymore,andnoamountofhealthwasgoingtochangethat. Pleasedon’tforgetDexterFouluporHamiltonoftheLAA. Iwishtherewasastatofallthebigcontractsthatfailed,80%,higher?SoletsgopaySoto$.5bllionUghhhh.Somefoolwilldoit. ThebestexampleofScottBorasAbsolutelyswindlingabusinessowner,primeexample Reply IrespectScottBorastremendously.However…… HehasabsolutelyruinedthecareersofGM’sthatsignedhisclientsforhighsalaries.Manyofhisplayersdidn’tproducemuchandateupsuchalargepercentageofthepayrollbudgetthattheGMcouldn’tfieldadecentteam.Subsequentlytheteamhadtogointoarebuildtowaitoutthebadcontracts……aftertheGMwasfired.. Thenwegettotheowners…… TheA-RodsigningresultedintheownerhavingtobringinJohnHartasGM,primarilytogetA-Rodofftheteam.Thatcosttheownermoneyanywayashehadtopayapartofthecontract,aswellnotreceivinganythingresemblingfairvalueinthetrade.Theownerhadtosellthefranchise(don’tcryforhim,hemadeafarbiggerfortunewithacommunicationcompany). NowwehavestoriesfloatingaroundthattheNationalsownersareexploringselling.Theycouldhavedeniedthoserumors,buthaven’t.AndanotherstoryslippedouttheotherdaythattheNationalsaremovingonfromSotoas$440misnotacceptabletohim(andprobablyshouldn’tbe).Whathappensiftheytieupthatamountofmoneyinhimandhesuffersamajorinjurythatdoesn’tgoaway?(Foolmeonceshameonyou…..)Heck,BoraswillbeexpectingasolidteamaroundSotoalongwithopt-outclausesguaranteeingthatifhestayshealthyandhitting(he’sapoorfielder)hecanleaveforyetmoremoney;butofhegetshurtlikeStrasburgthey’llhavetopayhisfullsalary……limitingwhatsortofteamcanbeputonthefieldforyears. NoonecanaccusetheLernerfamilyofbeing“cheap”,orofnotrunningafirstclassorganization.Buttherecomesapointwhereit’sjustnotfeasibletostayinabusinessanymore.Thesmallmarketteamshaveitright–stayawayfrommorethanoneortwolong-termcontracts,andeventhosehavetobereasonableinyearsanddollars. Reply Thistakeisabsolutelyhotgarbage… First,let’sstartwithA-Rod..who’smassivecontractcouldnothaveworkedoutanybetter.A-Rodwasanabsolutemonsterduringhisfirstcontract,hisWORSTWARforaseasonwas4.5.WhatgottherangersgmfiredwasNOTARod,itwasawfulcontractstochanhopark(arguablytheworstcontractever)rustygreerandZimmermanthattiedhishandsandforcedthemtotradeRodriguez.TheyalsoreceivedSorianobackinthatdeal…ifmemoryserveshewasprettyalright. Thentodiscussthenationalsandboras…lasttimeIcheckedboraswasmaxscherzersagentaswellandthathadtogodownasoneofthebestfreeagentsigningsofalltime(hugemoneydeals). Thelernershavebeenrumoredtobesellingsince2017becauseTedlernershealthwasbadandhiskidswerenot100percentcommittedtoowningtheteam.ItwassaidatthetimethataslongasTedwasstillalive,thekidswouldn’tsell. Also,JuanSotoisn’ta“poorfielder”he’sbeenbadthisseasonbutlastyearhewas+5OAA,-2in2020and+7in2019. OnecancomplainSototurneddown440millionbutthefactisitwasundera30millionAAVanditwasterriblybackloadedbecausetheLernerswanttoreaptherewardsandletsomeoneelsepayforitonthebackend. Players,iftheyarethinkingabouttheunionatall,havetoconsiderAAVbecausethatishowarbitrationraisesandotherplayersalariesarefigured. drasco036; Ihavenoideawhatyou’retalkingabout. IneversaidA-RodwasabadplayerinTexas.Thefactisthattheywerenotwiningwithhimandhissalarywaseatingupsomuchofthepayrollbudgetthat“theirhandsweretied”. AndI’mfullyawarethatMr.BorasisMaxScherzers’agent.I’malsoawarethatTheLernerfamilyhashadalongrelationshipwithScottBorasandhisclients,andgottothepointwiththeBryceHarpercontractnegotiationsthattheyneverevenreturnedcallstonegotiatewithBoras(accordingtoMr.Boras)whenHarperhitfreeagency.Theysimplycouldnotaffordhissalaryalongwiththoseofotherplayerstheywerepaying. AsforthecurrentsituationwithSoto–Mr.BorassaidpubliclylastyearthatSotowouldliketostayinDC,butwouldneedtoseetheteamputaroundhimbeforehewouldsign.WhattheNationalshaveatthispointisnexttonothing.Sotheyfloateda$440mproposalwhichwasturneddownasbeinglight.Now…… DoyouknowwhataBUDGETis?Doyouknowthatbusinessesbigandsmallroutinelydobudgetanalysisinadvance,lookingatbestcaseandworstcasefuturerevenuestreams?HasitoccurredtoyouthattheNationalshavefewgoodyoungplayers,apoorfarmsystem,andifSotofinds$440mtobelightthereisnowaytheNationalscanaffordtopayhimthengooutandsignfreeagentstocompeteanddrawenoughrevenuetobreakeven?……andpeoplearenotinbusinesstobreakeven…..theycanalwaysinvesttheirmoneyintaxfreeguaranteedbondsandmakeaprofit. Earlyin2021whenaskedtochoosealong-termplayerbetweenAcuna,Jr.,Tatis,Jr.andSoto,ItookSoto.Andthefactishe’sNOTaverygoodOF.ButIfiguredtheycouldhidehiminLF.He’sconsistent,asmartballplayerandateamplayer.Theother2guysarehotdogs,lackbaseballIQ,andnotsurprisinglygotthemselvesinjured(forwhichtheywillhavephysicallimitationsfortherestoftheircareers)decidingtoplay162gamesasiftheyweresprintinginamarathon. ScottBorasgetstopdollarforhisclients.That’sfine.Buttheproblemisthatateamcannotcommittoalong-termexcessivecontractwithone(ortwo)player(s),andthenkeepplayersaroundthemthatarequalityanddueraiseseachyear.We’rebackto:1)baseballbeingasportwhereabattercanonlyhitonceevery9guysandastartingpitchercanonlypitchonceevery5games….meaningthatawinningteamneedslotsofgoodplayers;and2)cashflowandabudget. Youdon’tthinkScottBoraswascalledinlongbeforetheNationalsshoppedScherzerin2022?Youthinkhewasn’tawareofthesituationandwasn’tinvolvedwithScherzerinacceptingtheteamhewouldbetradedto? Ithinkyou’rerightabouttheyoungerLerner’s,whichiswhatIwrote.Theseareextremelywealthypeople,anddon’tneedthedailyhasslesthatcomewithowningaMLBteam.Theycan,anddo,makemoneyelsewhere. BobbyBonilla Reply MoVaughn Reply MikeHamptonandBarryZitoareaskingiftheyarejokestoyou?🙂 Reply Thisguyistoast. Reply veryburnttoast Reply It’sashamecausehehadanoutsideHOFshot Reply 4moreyears.Gulp! Reply Wouldbeinterestingtoseeifthenatscanattachthiscontracttoasotodeal Reply interestingthought.notmanyteamscanaffordthat,maybeifnatspayhalflikethesoxdidwithPricetheycangetitdone.wouldlowertheprospectcostonSotobyafairamountthough Reply They’dstillgetahaul,especiallyifthishappenssoonerratherthanlater. Reply NotanyteamclosetoorabovetheLTT.Ican’tactuallythinkofanyteamwhichwouldtakeStrasburgandallofhismoneyowedandSotoforaPTBNL.For$35M/yr.,I’dtakemychancesdrafting/signingontheint’lmarket. Reply Thatwouldbewild Reply Notthewholething,andthefanswouldcrucifyownershipiftheytradedSotojustforsalaryreliefonStras. ButIcanenvisionatop5MLBprospectandanothertoptenorgprospectgoingforSoto,Stras,andhalfhissalary. Reply Doingsowouldsignificantlyreducethereturnanditprobablywouldn’tbeworthitfortheNats.AttachingCorbinisapossibilitythoughsincehisdealismuchsmallerandheactuallystillpitches,althoughnotverywell Reply Thatcontractbringssuchahighnegativevaluethatanattachmentwouldbringdownthereturnsignificantly.Itwouldcompletelychangethenatureofthetrade. Reply Fullno-trade Reply Starsburg’scontractissignificantlyworsethanCorbin’s.Maybethey’llattachCorbinwithSoto,butaddingStrasburgwoulddampentheprospecthaultoomuch. Reply I’vethoughtaboutthisalot,goingbacktolastyearwhenStraswashurtandtheNatslookedincrediblyweak,andSanDiegostillkeepscomingtomindasthebestlandingspot–Strasburg’shometownandateamthatcouldbewillingtotakeadecentchunkofhisbadcontractinordertogetSoto… Reply ThatworksgreatintheNHLfordraftpicks. Reply ChuckFletcheronlineonetotradeGauthierforStras’scontract. Reply Makehimthecloserforateamthathasarunforthechampionship! Reply Perhapsforyourlocalsoftballteamashe’snotpitchinginthemajorsthisyear. Reply TheMetscouldtakeon$20milandnothavetopartwithBaty,RamirezorAlvarez.TheycouldofferMauricio,oneofthisyears1strounders,Allan,PetersonorMegill,and1or2otherprospectstheNatsvaluehighly.AlotoftimesteamsvalueplayersdifferentlyandthereprobablyareafewtheNatsvaluehigherthanNewYork.Idoubtanythinghappensthisseasonbutstrangerthingshavehappened. Reply ExpecttheNatstodevastatetheMetsoranydivisionrival’sfarmsystem. Reply Yeahthat’stheonethingI’mnearlysureof,he’soutofdivisionulessalltopthirtymove Reply Thiscontractisn’tjustamisstepinretrospect,itwasamajormisstepwhenitwasoffered.Horrendouscontract. Reply WhileitwaseasytounderstandtheNationals’desiretokeephim?No.Itwasveryhardtounderstand.Iwasshockedbythissigning.Apitcherwithalonginjuryhistoryandhegetsasevenyearcontract.Ridiculous.IstillsaytheycouldhaveaffordedtokeepBryceHarperiftheyhadjustletStrasburgwalk.Ithinksomeonefiguredtheycouldn’tsignBryceHarperbecausetheywantedtohavethemoneyforStrasburgoneyeardowntheroad.Thatisabsolutelyinsane.Nowwearegoingtoseearticlessayinghewillbereadyforspringtraining.Surebuthe’llprobablygethurtinspringtraining.ThissigningaloneisgroundsforMikeRizzo’stermination.Healsohassomanyotherscrewupsaswellbuthewasjustextended.AnotheroneIdon’tunderstand..DoesStephenStrasburgwanttoberememberedasoneoftheworstcontractsinhistory?Doeshejustwanttocollecthismoneywhileheishurt.Hewillgethurttimeaftertimethenextfouryears.Heshouldjustretire.I’msurethemillionsyouhavemadeandwillcontinuetomakecan’tbespentinseverallifetimes. Reply There’ssurelymuch,muchmoretoallofthisthan“Rizzoisstupidandshouldbefired!”and“Borasthegeniuswinsagain!”.MLBisprobablyoneenormousracket,withallowners,allGM’s,mostorallagents,theunion,localpoliticians,thecommissionerforsure,andevenmanyoftheplayersinonamassivegrift,onewhosecomplexitiesyouprobablywouldn’tbelieveandcouldn’tfathomanyway. Reply Flagsflyforever. Reply Whatadog.Alwaysinjuredunlessitsacontractyearinwhichheismagicallyhealthy Reply PeoplekeepbringinguptheMetsandtherebalancingoftheschedulelikeSotowouldn’thelpadivisionrival,for162games,for10+years. ThatwouldmaketheBravesandMetstwomassiveroadblockstotheplayoffs,whenWashingtoncouldshiphimtotheAL,wherethereareteamswithmuchbetterfarmsystems. Reply Possibly,butanyacquiringteamwilldecimatetheirfarmsystemtoacquirehimandyouhavetothinkthatthey’llhavetheirsightssetonanextensiontopaytheking’sransom,whichcouldputamassivefinancialstrainonfuturemoves.Yes,he’sthatgood,buttheamountofplayersyou’regivinguptoacquirehimANDpossiblyre-signhim(whenthatmoneycouldgoelsewhere)—hecouldalsobeaTrojanhorse. Reply ToughpositiontobeinasaGM.SohardtojustifysayingawayfromaguybecauseheMIGHTbeonthecuspoffallingoffacliff.FreshoffofaWSchipleadingthemajorswith18wins.Howdoyouknowwhetherornottoextendaguy?Imeanhistorysaysthatgivingany30yoplayer8yearsandatonofmoneyisgoingtoprobablyendwithsomebadyearstowardstheendofthecontractbutunlessthemedicalsshowsomething,howdoyoupredictlessthan10gamesin3seasons?Yeesh. Reply Youcan’t.It’stheriskyoutakewhenyouwanttowin.WherewouldtheYankeesberightnowwithoutGerittCole?OrtheDodgerssansKershaw?OrtheRedSoxwithoutSale? Reply Iknewhewouldgethurttimeaftertime.ThinkingofCyndiLaupernow.IfIknewit,howcomeMikedidn’t? Reply wouldentinsurancepayhim Reply Theylikelyboughtinsurance,butit’snotcheapanditonlycoverspartofabigcontract.Ifaplayergetsinjuredduringtheexistingpolicy,justlikehouseinsurance,renewalcostsforthenextportionofthecontractcan/alwaysjumps….iftheyevenofferthatplayercoverage. Typicallyhigh-riskpositionslikepitcherarethetop-endofpremiums(6%-10%ofcoveredvalue),andthecoverageisonlyfor2-4yratatime,dependingonthecompanyandtotalexposurein$$.Theyallhaveawaitingperiod,typically30-60days.Somemayalsohaveexclusionsforplayerspecificpre-existinginjuries,especiallyforguyswhohavepreviouslybeeninjuredandareotherwiseuninsurable.Payoutsmayalsobea%,dependingonhowthecoveragewasstructured.Thereareonlyahandfulofcompaniesthatdealinthesetypesofplans,sopriceshoppingislimited. Reply 2great(1ofthemwasbarelygreat)seasonsforhisentirecareer-2017and2019-andnothingworthmentioningasidefromthose2seasons.30WARforthecareer.Didn’tliveuptotheexpectationstosaytheleastandthecontractwasstupidandveryplayer-favorablefromthebeginning. Reply SomostofStrasburg’ssalarywillbedeferred?DoesthatmeantherewillnotonlybeaBobbyBonilladay.ButtherewillbeaStevenStrasburgdaytoo? Reply Nohewillearn80millionfrom2027-2029. Reply NatsshouldhavelethimwalkaftertheWSwin.Dudewasnevergoingtoliveuptothatcontract. Reply WhenIreadthathe’sdue35Millannually,IsaidoutloudOmg…andI’maRedsfan,butthatsucksfirthisorganization.. Reply Likeatitanicstruggle Reply ThreeyearsintothenewdealandalltheNationalshavegottenoutofitis1Winin8Starts Reply WashingtontryingtolumpStrasburgandCorbinw/Sotoandgetahighprospectand3-4midlevellowminortalent.WhoevertradeswithWashingtonshouldgeta2hourwindowtoextendhim.10/$350Mwouldprobablywork. HewilltattooYankeeStadium. Reply Sototurneddown15/$440Msowhywouldheacceptlessguaranteedmoney?AndlumpinginStrasburgalonemakesthevalueforSotomootforthenexttwotofouryears. Reply Don’tyoumeanatwodaywindow?Hewillwantmorethantenyears.TheyofferedJudgesevenandSotois6.5yearsyounger. Reply TheNationalsdon’tevenwantCorbinorStrasburg’scontractswhyintheworldwouldsomeoneelsewantthemjustforthechancetohavetopaySotoahalfabilliondollarsontopofthat? Reply Yeah,Ididn’texpecthimtoreturnforawhilenow.IguessIshouldhavereporteditatthetime.Thenagain,I’mnotareportersowhowouldhavecared.Butalso,itwaskindofcommonsensesowho’dhavethoughtI’dhavebeenwronglol Reply SotowillcomewithStephen.Anyoneinterested? Reply AsaNationalsfanfromDay1,youtakethegoodwiththebad.ThepositivemomentsStrasbroughttothetablewillfaroutweighthealbatrossofacontracthesignedafteradominatingplayoffrun.Ifanything,itgavemyfatherandIsomethingtocareaboutasourlivesheadeddowndifferentpathsaswebothgrewolder. IrememberwatchinghisfirstgameagainstthePirates.IremembercursingRizzowhenheshuthimdownandcosttheNationalsashotattheWS.IrememberflyingtoLAandseeingHarper’sfirstgamewithStrasonthemound.IrememberwatchingStrasdealintheplayoffswhentheNationalswontheWorldSeries.TheNationalshadachoicebetweenRendonandStras.andtheysignedStrasknowingtheyhadalreadygottentheTJsurgeryoutoftheway. Stras’mostrecentsurgeryisoneofthetoughesttocomebackfromasapitcher.Fromthefanperspective,it’sdisappointing.HehasallthetoolstobeaGOAT.Howeverhisdurabilityhasalwaysbeenanissue.He’sbeenaclassactonandoffthefield.Ihaveanine-montholdson.IwouldhavenoproblemsifheemulatedStras’characteronandoffthefield.Ihighlydoubtwe’llseeStraspitchagain…ThanksfortheWSrunStephen…takecareofyourhealthsport. Reply HedidbetterthanmyfavoritebrewerPitcher,BenSheets!HewasaCHINADollwithHOFstuffToo! Reply Ifhesticksarounduntiltheendofthecontract,thealbatrosswillfaroutweighwhateverhedidwhenhewasnothurt. Reply I’mothernews:grassisgreen. Reply HimandChrisSale…twowasinjuredpeasinapod.SMH. Reply Hisdaysintheprosover?We’llprobablyseeashellofhimreturnandeventuallyhe’ll“retire” Reply Whenhedoesreturn,he’llhavetoreinventhimselfasafinessepitcher.Hisonceblazingfastballislonggone.Maybehecanbecomeaknuckleballerorsubmarinepitcherinsomeone’sbullpen.Otherwise,heisfinished Reply Wonderwhattheinsurancelimitsareonstrasburgscontract?Nationalswillprobneverbeabletobuyinsuranceagainlolz Reply Iagreewiththeneedforinsurance!Alwaysavailableforenoughmoney! Reply GoodthingRizzodecidedtositStrasburgafter160inningsin2012,otherwisehewouldprobablybeinjuryprone. Reply AndotherwisetheNationalsprobablywouldn’thavewonthe2019WSeither. It’sre-signingStrasburgafterheoptedoutofhisexistingcontract,ontheheelsofhis2019WSMVP,thatwasobviouslyapoordecisioninhindsight.Clearlythatwasownership’sdecision,althoughtheGMwascertainlyinvolvedtoo. Reply Theycouldhavetradedforastartingpitcher,putStrasburginthebullpenandgonefartherthantheydid.Thenagain,incompetentDaveyJohnsonwasaround.HehadDrewStorenpitchthreedaysinarow.Thefirstwasinalopsidedgamethatwaslost.Hecouldn’tgetthethirdoutagainstSt.Louis.HiringhimwasanotherofMikeRizzo’sscrewups. Reply @believeitornotWasJohnsonalwaysincompetent? Reply Evenifhecouldpitchlaterthisseason,whywouldtheNationalsriskit?They’llfinishinlastplaceeitherway. Notsayinghe’dpitchinSeptemberifhisteamwereincontention.ButfortheNationalsit’salllongtermplanningatthispoint.They’reonthehookforbasicallytherestofStrasburg’scareer(whetherit’salreadydoneornot).Needtofocusongettinganythingmoreoutofhimlongterm,howeverremotethepossibility. Reply ChrisDavis2.0,excepthe’sapitcher Reply Sad.Theylimitedthisguyfromthestartanditaccomplishedabsolutelynothing.Heisjustalwaysinjured. Reply WasitStrausburgtheNatsbabiedwhenhestartedhiscareer?Heneverpitchedpastapitchcountnomatterhowwellhewasdoing.Justshowsyoucanneverpredicthowarmswillrespond. Nextup,MaxScherzer!!!! Reply Hisgreatgrandchildrenwillhavegoodlives(unlesstheyscrewitupandofcoursethefederalgovernmentwillgettheircutofaninheritance)basedon1season’sperformance. Reply ThisisabitofadoubleburnfortheNatsastheymovedHarperandgavethemoneytoStrasburg.TheNatstriedtogetcreativebutHarperdidn’twanttohavehisown‘BobbyBonilla’day. ThebrightsideisClevelandwouldlovetobeinthissituationifitmeanttheywontheseriesin2019liketheNats. Reply Heisnotexpectedtoreturnatallperiod. Reply Strausburgknewhishealthwasbigliabilityandtookadealinsteadofriskingitbeforefreeagency...notevenBorascouldtalkhimoutofit..smartman Reply Yettheyneverlearn. Reply StrasburgandCorbinaretwoawfulcontracts.IfNatscanincludeonewithSotoandtakeasmallerprospectpackageandfewsmallercontractsbackmaybeadealthatbenefitsbothclubscanworkout. InthecaseoftheYanksifNatssentSotoandCorbinforfollowingprospectsandplayers: OswaldPeraza(#2) EversonPeriera(#10) LuisMedina(#11) WithJoeyGallo(10mfreeagentafterthisseason)andAaronHicks(10mwithfourmoreyearsofteamcontrol40m)goingtoNats Yankscouldstayunderthecurrentcapwiththisdealthisseason.NextseasonisanotherstorywhentheytryresignJudge. Atradelikethisismorethanfairtobothteams NatsarenotgettingDominguezorVolpebuttheyaregettingthesecondbestorganizationalssandoutfielderplusayoungelectricarmedpitcher. Reply It’ssemi-interesting.Forgettingaboutthe2022salary,theNYYadd$60M/2forCorbinandlose$30M/3forHicks.Sotheyadd$30M,butcouldstillgetsomethingusefuloutofCorbin,whooccasionallypitcheswell. Thatsaid,ifIweretheNats,Iwouldn’tpackagesalarywithSoto.Justgetthebestpackageofprospects,andhopethatStrasburg&Corbincangiveyousomemediocrepitching. Reply YankeesfanscomeupwiththemostridiculoustradeoffersI’veeverseen.AndIliketheYankees. Reply There’smoresubstancethananythingyoueverpost. Reply Thisiswhyteamsneedgoodinjuryinsuranceonanyhugecontract.RememberwhentheMetsgotmillionbackfromtheDavidWright injury?Paynoworpaylaterandpayandpayandpay! Reply @UWPSUPERFAN77You’retalkingasifplayerinsuranceiseasytoobtain,reasonablypriced,andprovidesfullloss-coverage.Noneoftheabove! Reply $105millionfor30IPinthepast3years. 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