Stephen Strasburg officially retires from baseball after reaching….

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Stephen Strasburg officially retires from baseball after reaching settlement agreement with Washington Nationals.

Stephen Strasburg has officially called it quits on his Major League Baseball career.

After over a year of uncertainty and a contract dispute with the Washington Nationals, the 2019 World Series MVP can finally hang up his spikes. The two parties recently came to a settlement agreement, allowing Strasburg to confirm the news of his retirement in a statement provided to members of the media.

The statement reads:

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

The 35-year-old right-handed starter has not pitched since the 2022 season due to neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. The ailment, which has caused Strasburg severe nerve damage, led to him getting a rib and two neck muscles removed to address the injury.

Original plans had Strasburg set to announce his retirement last fall but that occasion never arrived, as he and the Nationals disagreed on the financial terms. Strasburg came into 2024 owed more than $100 million over the next three years and the Nats previously did not want to pay him in full. The terms of what they eventually compromised on are undisclosed at this time.

Strasburg, the number one overall selection in the 2009 MLB Draft, completes his career having started 247 games, striking out 1,723 batters, and posting a 3.24 earned-runs average. Per Fangraphs, he provided the Nationals with 36.6 wins above replacement. The three-time All-Star threw 36 1/3 innings for the Nationals in their successful run to the 2019 World Series crown, including 14 1/3 innings of four-run ball during the final series against the Houston Astros.

The outstanding postseason performance led to the fireballer signing a seven-year deal worth $245 million to remain with the Nationals. Strasburg made just eight more starts after putting pen to paper on the contract.

Both Mark Lerner, managing principal owner, and Mike Rizzo, president of baseball operations and general manager, released their own statements on Strasburg’s retirement on Sunday.

“On behalf of the Lerner · Cohen · Tanenbaum family, I’d like to thank Stephen for all he’s done for the Washington Nationals,” Lerner wrote. “It was a privilege to watch him grow as a player and a person throughout his illustrious career. He gave us so many memories that will live in our hearts forever. No one can dispute the indelible impact he had on our organization. He put us on the map as World Champions and changed the face of our franchise. Thank you, Stephen – for everything – and congratulations on a tremendous career.”

“I’d like to congratulate Stephen on an incredible career,” Rizzo writes. “From his Major League debut in 2010 through leading us to a title as the World Series MVP in 2019, the impact he’s had on our ball club is undeniable. He will go down as one of the best players in Washington Nationals history, and it was my honor to be part of that journey. We’re thankful for all he’s done for our organization and wish him and his family the absolute best.”

Per the Nationals promotional schedule, Strasburg could be back in DC as soon as April 19 for the start of the club’s “2019 World Champions Five Year Anniversary Weekend.” The Nats will host the Astros for the first time since their championship victory in a three-game, interleague series.

Select alumni from the team will be in attendance for events across the weekend. The exact names of attendees have yet to be announced.

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