Miller's Hall candidacy split MLB, just like union tenure

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Fields, Hurts, Young join Burrow as Heisman Trophy finalists

<p>SAN DIEGO &#8212; Stephen Strasburg is returning to Washington with a record contract, and fellow free agent pitcher Gerrit Cole could be in line for an even larger payday.</p><p>The World Series MVP and the Nationals agreed to a $245 million, seven-year contract Monday, the first significant announcement at this week&#8217;s winter meetings.</p><p>A 31-year-old right-hander, Strasburg received the highest deal for a pitcher in both total dollars and average annual value at $35 million. The largest contract for a pitcher had been David Price&#8217;s $217 million, seven-year deal with Boston that began in 2016. The highest average value had been Zack Greinke&#8217;s $34.4 million as part of a $206.5 million, six-year agreement with Arizona prior to the 2016 season.</p><p>&#8220;We would not have won the 2019 World Series or accomplished everything we have these last 10 seasons if not for Stephen&#8217;s many contributions,&#8221; Nationals owner Mark Lerner said in a statement.</p><p>Strasburg gets $35 million annually, with $80 million deferred &#8212; about $11.4 million a year. The deferred money is payable from 2028-30.</p><p>The contract sets a floor for Cole, who is expected to top the records Strasburg just set.</p><p>Cole, whose Astros lost to the Nationals in a seven-game World Series, is two years younger and has been healthier throughout his career. Like Strasburg, he&#8217;s represented by agent Scott Boras.</p><p>Strasburg was drafted first overall by Washington in 2009 and has spent his entire career with the Nationals. He&#8217;ll stay in a rotation that also features All-Stars Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s a wonderful person, a wonderful player and a true champion,&#8221; Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said at a news conference. &#8220;We know this person, we know his character, we know his work ethic.&#8221;</p><p>After helping win the first World Series title in the 51-season history of the Montreal/Washington franchise, Strasburg gave up $100 million he had been guaranteed from 2020-23 as part of a $175 million, seven-year contract he agreed to in May 2016 and became a free agent.</p><p>He was 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA this season, topping 30 starts for the second time in his career and leading the NL with 209 innings. He went 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in five postseason starts and one relief appearance, including wins in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series against Houston.</p><p>In a career interrupted by Tommy John surgery shortly after his spectacular major league debut in 2010, Strasburg is 112-58 with a 3.17 ERA and 1,695 strikeouts in parts of 10 seasons. He&#8217;s made 10 trips to the disabled list over seven of those years.</p><p>Strasburg&#8217;s average annual value is second among all players behind outfielder Mike Trout&#8217;s $35.5 million in a $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels that started last season.</p><p>Washington has invested heavily in starting pitching. Scherzer, also a Boras client, agreed to a $210 million, seven-year contract before the 2015 season. Corbin reached a $140 million, six-year deal last offseason.</p><p>Rizzo confirmed a pending $6.25 million, one-year deal to keep second baseman Howie Kendrick, one of Washington&#8217;s postseason stars. All-Star third baseman Anthony Rendon, another key component of the Nationals&#8217; title, also is a free agent represented by Boras.</p><p>&#8220;Ownership has always given us the resources to field a great term,&#8221; Rizzo said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t expect that to change.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws delivers a pitch during October&#8217;s National League Division Series. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_124122855-c011cd3cc2724f739969b42a258b605d.jpg</photo0><caption0>Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws delivers a pitch during October&#8217;s National League Division Series. </caption0><photoCredit0>AP file photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_124122855-9a2a8d110d5d4de7bed29c1176958a49.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, left, listens to a question alongside agent Scott Boras, right, during the Major League Baseball winter meetings Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in San Diego. Nationals pitcher and World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg agreed to a record $245 million, seven-year contract on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_124122855-9a2a8d110d5d4de7bed29c1176958a49.jpg</photo1><caption1>Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, left, listens to a question alongside agent Scott Boras, right, during the Major League Baseball winter meetings Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in San Diego. Nationals pitcher and World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg agreed to a record $245 million, seven-year contract on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)</caption1><photoCredit1>AP file photo </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_124122855-0a20ac19047e4f65a920428063ae73d6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, left, listens to a question alongside agent Scott Boras, right, during the Major League Baseball winter meetings Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in San Diego. Nationals pitcher and World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg agreed to a record $245 million, seven-year contract on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_124122855-0a20ac19047e4f65a920428063ae73d6.jpg</photo2><caption2>Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, left, listens to a question alongside agent Scott Boras, right, during the Major League Baseball winter meetings Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in San Diego. Nationals pitcher and World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg agreed to a record $245 million, seven-year contract on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)</caption2><photoCredit2>AP file photo </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ronald Blum</p><p>AP Baseball Writer</p></bylineMeta></div>

Strasburg, Nationals reach record $245M, 7-year deal