AP source: Strasburg, Nats reach record $245M, 7-year deal

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Stephen Strasburg is returning to Washington with a record contract, and fellow free agent pitcher Gerrit Cole could be in line for an even larger payday.

Strasburg and the Nationals agreed to a $245 million, seven-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity at baseball's annual winter meetings because the agreement had not been announced.

A 31-year-old right-hander, Strasburg agreed to a deal that is the highest for a pitcher in both total dollars and average annual value at $35 million. The largest contract for a pitcher had been David Price's $217 million, seven-year deal with Boston that began in 2016. The highest average value had been Zack Greinke's $34.4 million as part of a $206.5 million, six-year agreement with Arizona prior to the 2016 season.

Strasburg's deal includes $80 million in deferred payments, with all the money paid by 2029, the person said.

The contract sets a floor for Cole, who is expected to top the records Strasburg just set.

Cole, whose Astros lost to the Nationals in a seven-game World Series, is two years younger and has been healthier throughout his career. Like Strasburg, he's represented by agent Scott Boras.

Strasburg was drafted first overall by Washington in 2009 and has spent his entire career with the Nationals. He'll stay in a rotation that also features All-Stars Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin.

After helping win the first World Series title in the 51-season history of the Montreal/Washington franchise, Strasburg gave up $100 million he had been guaranteed from 2020-23 as part of a $175 million, seven-year contract he agreed to in May 2016 and became a free agent.

He was 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA this season, topping 30...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/AP-source-Strasburg-Nats-reach-record-245M-14893535.php