Stephen Strasburg’s Nationals saga should serve as cautionary tale

Strasburg signed a seven-year, $245 million contract extension with the Nationals in 2019, shortly after serving to convey house the franchise’s first World Sequence title and MVP honors, however issues rapidly started to go downhill for the ace. 

From 2020 onward, Strasburg made solely eight begins for the Nationals, coping with thoracic outlet syndrome, a extreme nerve situation. He underwent surgical procedure in 2021 in hopes of returning to the mound at full power however made his final main league look in 2022, pitching solely 4 2/3 innings towards the Miami Marlins. 

Unable to pitch, Strasburg leaned towards retirement. Nevertheless, as a result of his contract was uninsured, the Nationals have been solely liable for paying it. This, sadly, led to a bit little bit of nastiness. 

In September 2023, the Nationals abruptly postponed a retirement ceremony to honor arguably the most effective pitchers within the franchise’s historical past. Then, proprietor Mark Lemer appeared to insist that Strasburg report to spring training, although it was clear he had thrown his final pitch. 

Fortunately, cooler heads have prevailed, ending a scenario that might’ve turned ugly. The saga involving Strasburg and the Nationals ought to be a cautionary story for others, although.

Through the years, MLB has seen a rise in extreme arm accidents suffered by pitchers. Most just lately, Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber fell sufferer to a season-ending UCL injury, whereas the identical ailment has additionally jeopardized Atlanta Braves Spencer Strider’s yr.

Satirically, roughly a month in the past, Strider spoke at size concerning the “epidemic,” relating it to the league’s new guidelines, together with the pitch clock.

MLBPA government director Tony Clark addressed the scenario, criticizing the league for failing to “acknowledge or study” the consequences of those drastic adjustments. MLB responded in an announcement arguing that there isn’t any proof to help claims that the pitch clock or some other rule change is responsible for the enhance in elbow accidents. Likewise, the league says “empirical evidence” proves that will increase in velocity and spin are the wrongdoer. 

No matter why so many elite pitchers are touchdown on the long-term IL, it is certain to alter how groups function and possibly the league. The current uptick in accidents might have groups pondering twice about investing large {dollars} in pitchers, and, at this price, the league should do one thing. Whether or not that results in a tweak within the present guidelines stays to be seen, however doing nothing in any respect is not an possibility.