The Washington Nationals may have been eliminated from the playoffs earlier than they wanted, but at least they have some good news this offseason.
According to The Washington Post, neither Bryce Harper nor Stephen Strasburg will need surgery this offseason.
Though Harper never officially was diagnosed with an injury — or at least that the public knows about — there was a report in August saying the former NL MVP was playing through a shoulder injury. Harper batted a career-worst .243, with only five of his 24 home runs coming after the All-Star break. Harper’s agent Scott Boras did say his client was playing with “limitations” this season.
Strasburg was enjoying the best season of his career and got rewarded with a $175 million extension in May, but he went on the DL in August with an elbow issue. He suffered a partially torn tendon during his first start back from the DL in September, but the Nats believe he has healed and will not need surgery.
The Nats won the NL East and tied for the second-best regular season record in MLB. They were eliminated from the playoffs by the Dodgers in five games and will hope to have all hands on deck next season. An offseason of rest should do their star players well.
