Strasburg Signs Extension with Nationals

This was so out of the blue that I was surprised. That said ... I think it makes sense for both sides.

 

1st, I'm going to be curious how the contract breaks down. The initial guess would be that it's front-loaded so that Strasburg can get a bundle and then, if he wants, he could opt out. That said, while different tiers, Boras just came off an off-season when he landed a similar model deal for Wei-Yin Chen, and the contract pre-opt out wasn't front loaded. So that'll be very curious to see.

 

2nd, should there be concerns about Dusty? Of course. Baker's tenure in Cincinnati was actually okay with managing his pitchers (rode Arroyo too hard early on ... ) until 2012, when he rode all those starters. That said, this has been a Nationals organization that has been ultra-careful with Strasburg since he jumped in, but particularly, after TJ. The opt-outs probably there to protect him against being used too much as well, and they've largely had a strong pen there through the years.

 

3rd, Strasburg gets safety (if he gets hurt, that's still nice "pocket change". The Nationals get ... well, a lot actually. They get certainty and a top arm. I still find it funny that people somehow think ... less ... of Strasburg. Is he in that limited, Cy Young elite area yet? No, but he's been in that next group. More importantly, the Nationals get two more things - they show they'll keep their guys to stay strong (which I would imagine is important to Harper, but particularly, after letting Jordan Zimmerman and some guys go, it's a good internal message) AND they get a lot of flexibility this winter. If Giolito is slow to develop, they'll just keep the same starting five. If Giolito is ready? Gio Gonzalez would be one of the more intriguing arms on the market if they opted to shop him. If they wanted to try for a bigger deal, they could move Roark or Ross and see if they could get something else back.

 

Either way, for all the talk about windows, the Nationals window is still now ... and the future. With Robles tearing it up in A ball and looking like the real deal, plus several solid enough catching prospects (and should add CF prospects ... Stevenson has shown better than I thought and same goes for Bautista) to replace Ramos if necessary, along with Trea Turner and a bevy of other arms waiting in the wings ... plus an ownership willing to spend ... this is a team that should be competitive for the next 4+ years. Of course, their ability to be a top squad is largely dependent on a certain OF staying with them.

The way the money is staggered feels like such a huge win for the Nationals. That said, Strasburg, by most indications, simply wanted to stay as long as the contract was reasonable. I'll be stunned if he doesn't opt out in 3 to 4 years, assuming health, and grab another big payday, even if it's in Washington.