Indeed – I’m up early with MLB Network on – and all the morning leftover baseball talk from the Winter Meetings in San Diego is rave reviews about Stephen Strasburg.
The analysts are saying he’s going to ‘be the best 1-1 pitcher ever selected in the history of the game’. Then, there are heroic tales about his return to Washington on a seven-year, $245 million dollar deal signed Monday.
Still, we are yet to hear from Strasburg. Of course that will probably happen at an official press conference in Washington. However, we are getting to hear from Scott Boras. First, here’s a statement released by Boras himself on why Strasburg returned to Washington.
Here's what Stephen Strasburg's agent, Scott Boras, in his opening statement, said about the relationship between the Nationals and Strasburg that led to the 7-year/$245M deal that was announced this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/U9otZCc4Om
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) December 9, 2019
Moreover, the glowing quote comes from Sports Illustrated. Without question, Boras says that Strasburg will finish his career in Washington.
“To establish a legacy and wear the curly W for his career was something that was very important to him,” Boras said. “And I think it was because he knew that people in this organization cared deeply about him and always cared about his interests and the interests of his family.”
With a title in-hand, their ace coming back to the mound (they also still have Max Scherzer), and one of the brightest young stars in baseball in Juan Soto; baseball in D.C. is in a great place entering 2020.
More than money and a chance to win again, Stephen Strasburg's return to the Nationals is about comfort. He decided to stay in D.C. because his future has always mattered to them (By @stephapstein) https://t.co/KtDLVHMuIt
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) December 10, 2019
Sure they might lose Anthony Rendon. Even still, the Nationals were able to make a statement by retaining Strasburg and defeating the mighty Astros in seven games last October. They’re a legitimate organization finally, after so many years as being the stepsister organization in a transplant city.
Otherwise, Strasburg never re-signs there and this story is never written.
