In recent weeks, we learned that pitcher Stephen Strasburg had chosen to announce his retirement. The Nationals had summoned the press to honor him.
But now Saturday’s press conference has been postponed. The plan was to honor him and possibly retire his number (in the future, not Saturday), but there is a changing of the guard.
What you need to know is that it is not because the pitcher wants to return to the game. He is no longer able to pitch and that is final.
And if the Nats have really decided to retire his number 37, which is not yet certain, I don’t think the club wants to go back.
Clearly, it must be the level of money that is blocked.
From what we understand, the Nationals and the Strasburg clan, led by Scott Boras, are trying to sort out the final details of his retirement.
Here’s what I don’t understand. It was the Nationals, according to some sources, who decided to approach the pitcher to push him into retirement.
Normally, a player who retires gives up his money. But Strasburg, which is in the fourth year of seven of a $245 million deal, is not going to cough up more than $100 million.
If he agreed to retire, it is because he is paid 100%. Otherwise, he just has to remain on the injured list for years, until the end of his contract.
I have the feeling that what Washington wants to negotiate is when it will get its money and not if it will get its money.
Otherwise, the pitcher has no incentive to say yes.
I have the feeling that it will eventually be resolved, but it’s been hay spit a bit of having called a press conference without having confirmation that everything was settled. No?
Remember that at the moment, the club is for sale and the CEO has not yet signed a contract extension… after having offered one to his manager.
Is this all related? After all, at the moment, things are poorly managed in Washington…
- Greg Bird is in Quebec.
- Does Kevin Gausman have a chance of winning the Cy Young?
- The Rays have a knack for finding good pitchers.
- Getting cut is hard.
