Nationals ‘CANCEL Stephen Strasburg’s retirement press conference after backflip on deal to pay all of the pitcher’s seven-year, $245million contract’

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg will not receive the public farewell as was initially promised according to a new report. 

Strasburg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, was set to depart off into the sunset after a media conference Saturday, but that is no longer to be. 

Per The Athletic, a dispute has arisen after the franchise want to make changes to the original contract terms, and in turn, settlement. Initially, it had approached the right-hander about both retiring and compensating him fully.

Strasburg signed a seven-year, $245million – fully guaranteed – deal following the Nats’ 2019 World Series win. He is represented by super agent Scott Boras.

Last month, Strasburg decided to retire, ending a career that began as a No. 1 draft pick, included 2019 World Series MVP honors and was derailed by injuries, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Nationals All-Star right-hander Stephen Strasburg retired after 13 seasons in the Big Show

Strasburg, who turned 35 in July, had his career knocked off course by injuries after leading the Nationals to their first title in franchise history four years ago. 

He had surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve and blood disorder that involved removing a rib and two neck muscles.

The right-hander has not pitched since June 9, 2022 – his only start that season, which lasted 4 2/3 innings before going back on the injured list. 

He has thrown only 528 pitches in the majors since signing a $245 million, seven-year contract in December 2019 and did not report to spring training earlier this year after experiencing a setback.

Strasburg, featuring a 100-plus mph fastball, was touted as a generational talent before becoming the first pick in the 2009 draft, and he became one of the faces of Washington’s franchise after making his anticipated debut in 2010. 

He struck out 14 batters and allowed two runs on four hits with no walks against the Pittsburgh Pirates to win a memorable game that became known as ‘Strasmas.’