Why did former Washington Nationals star pitcher Stephen Strasburg retire from MLB?

While it was coming for some time, it’s interesting to note that the righty’s retirement announcement was delayed not by a desire to continue playing the game that made him a star, but rather a disagreement on how he would be compensated having ended his career prematurely.

Stephen Strasburg officially retires from MLB

According to reports, right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg has officially retired from Major League Baseball after agreeing on a settlement with the Washington Nationals. There has been no official word as to the terms of that agreement, however, Strasburg released a statement of his own in which he addressed his decision to bring the curtain down on his time in MLB.

Today, I am announcing my retirement from the Game I love. I realized after repeated attempts to return to pitching, injuries no longer allow me to perform at a Major League level. As a young kid, all I dreamt about was winning a World Series. Thanks to the many coaches, teaMMAtes, and medical staff, my boyhood dream came true in 2019. Despite this being a personal goal of mine, I’ve come to realize how truly important and special that moment was for no many fans in the DMV. Your unwavering support through all the ups and downs will always mean the world to me. I’d also like to thank the late Ted Lerner and family for giving me the chance to wear the curly W all these years. Although I will always wish there were more Games to be pitched, I find comfort knowing I left it all out there for the only team I’ve known. My family and I are truly fortunate and blessed to have experienced this baseball journey in the Nation’s Capitol. As always, Go Nats! #37

Who was Stephen Strasburg

If Strasburg’s name seems familiar but you can’t put a face to it, that’s probably because the 35-year-old hasn’t thrown a pitch in the league since 2022. Diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome - a circulatory condition that affects the arms and hands - Strasburg was actually due to retire last fall, but his announcement was never made. Since then we’ve learned that the reason for that was because neither he nor the Nationals could disagree on the financial terms under which he would leave.

Reports at the time indicated that the Nationals reneged on their initial position of agreeing to pay him in full. To be clear, Strasburg entered this season owed more than $100 million across the next three years. To that end, a statement from Nationals team owner Mark Lerner at the time seemed to raise eyebrows. “Stephen Strasburg is and always will be an important part of the Washington Nationals franchise. We support him in any decision he makes and will ensure that he receives what is due to him,” read Lerner’s statement.

Yet, truly Strasburg will be remembered most for the key role he played in delivering a World Series title in 2019 on the back of an MVP performance. Throwing 14 1/3 innings in the series, he allowed just four runs which only served to cement the fact that he had already given baseball fans a clinic in efficiency in the month leading up to the fall classic after posting a 1.98 ERA in 36 1/3 frames. Indeed, it was following that campaign that he put pen to paper on a seven-year, $245 million contract. Sadly, that never came to be as the above-mentioned condition limited him to just eight starts. Ultimately, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 Draft ended his career with a total of 247 starts, a 3.24 ERA (127 ERA+), and a 4.37 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Strasburg also made three All-Star Game appearances and believe it or not, even won a Silver Slugger Award in 2012.