Report: Stephen Strasburg increasingly likely to opt out of Nationals contract

Stephen Strasburg has a difficult decision to make regarding his contract this winter, but a quality season in which he has finally been healthy has him leaning toward seeking a new deal.

Strasburg has a clause in his contract with the Washington Nationals that allows him to opt out of the four years and $100 million remaining on the deal. Most assumed he would opt in after he threw just 130 innings and posted a career-worst 3.74 ERA last year, but Jon Morosi of MLB.com reports that it is viewed as increasingly likely that the right-hander will opt out or at least make the Nationals think he is planning to.

One source told Morosi that Strasburg has not made up his mind, and it’s possible he could simply be looking to leverage the opt-out clause into a new deal from the Nationals. The contract is set to pay him $25 million, $15 million, $15 million and then a whopping $45 million in 2023, which is the final year of the deal. It also includes $70 million in deferred payments spread out over seven years after the contract expires.

Strasburg has thrown 179 innings this year, which is his highest total since 2014. He has a 3.47 ERA and leads the NL with 16 wins. He’s a big reason why the Nationals are currently on top in the NL Wild Card race, and his postseason performance (assuming Washington makes it) could be a big factor in his contract decision.

Strasburg has battled injuries over the years and got into a heated confrontation with a teammate in the dugout last season, but 2019 has been a much better year for him all around. The timing may work out perfectly with the way his contract is structured.