Washington Nationals right-hander and former World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg is reportedly planning to retire, sources told Jesse Dougherty and Barry Svrluga of The Washington Post.
A press conference is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 9 at Nationals Park. The Nationals host the Los Angeles Dodgers that day for a game that begins at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Strasburg, who was the first overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, hasn't pitched since June 9, 2022, as he was sidelined due to shoulder and neck injuries. The 35-year-old has thrown 4 2/3 innings since undergoing thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in 2021.
He made multiple attempts to return from a slew of injuries but was most recently shut down from all physical activity this past April.
The Nationals and Strasburg agreed to a seven-year, $245-million contract prior to the 2020 campaign. The pitcher appeared in 31 1/3 innings on that deal and is still owed $105 million beyond this season.
Over his 13-year career, the three-time All-Star authored a 3.24 ERA and 3.02 FIP in 1,470 innings and 247 regular season games. He was particularly dominant during the Nationals' 2019 postseason run, posting a sterling 1.98 ERA in six appearances over 36 1/3 frames, including two wins in the Fall Classic.
