Stephen Strasburg retired during the 2023 season, but not officially. This is why, according to Mark Zuckerman of the MASN network, the Washington Nationals want him to report to spring camp in order to mentor young players.
However, it is still unclear whether the Gunner actually intends to report to training camp in the coming days.
The Strasburg case is complex. He can't pitch right now and will never pitch again at the MLB level, but his contract status is the reason he hasn't officially retired.
The Nationals still owe him $105 million over three years and want to recover as much as possible, since Strasburg has been unable to play for almost the entirety of that pact.
If the two sides reach a financial resolution, the 35-year-old could retire, but if not, he will have to remain in the lineup and possibly be placed on injured reserve.
Note that the gunner is still technically part of the 40-man roster of the District of Columbia team and that the latter still has a locker in the team's locker room at the training camp site in Florida.
The Nationals' stance toward Strasburg isn't entirely surprising, however. Indeed, last September, the owner of the organization, Mark Lerner, added fuel to the fire after the team backed down on the matter of the pitcher's retirement ceremony.
Major League Baseball may need to step in and investigate the situation, as the two sides do not appear to be on the same page at the moment.
