Stephen Strasburg could be headed for free agency after the 2016 season.
The Washington Nationals pitcher avoided arbitration in January by inking a one-year, $10.4 million contract with the club, but it looks as though it’s not going to go beyond that. Agent Scott Boras told FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi that Strasburg and the Nationals have no plans to discuss a contract extension this season.
“We amicably agreed to a one-year deal (for 2016),” Boras said. “He’s going to pitch, and we’ll see where it goes from there. It’s something we’ll be discussing at the end of the year.”
Of course, the two sides still could work out something out in 2017, and for what it’s worth, Boras said the relationship between Washington and the 27-year-old has been a positive one.
“The Nationals have done a great job with him,” Boras told Morosi. “They’ve listened to the doctors, and all you can ask of a team is that they listen to the doctors. They have. Stephen and the team have benefited from that.”
Strasburg pitched just 127 1/3 innings in 2015 because of injuries, but his 11 wins still were tied for third-most on the team with Gio Gonzalez in what was a rough year for the Nationals. Strasburg showed he can still be consistent even if he doesn’t make it through a full season, so if the right-hander stays healthy in 2016, he could be in for a big payday.
Thumbnail photo via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images
