Starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals avoided arbitration Friday after agreeing to a one-year, $7.4 million deal, per William Ladson of MLB.com.
Stephen Strasburg avoids arbitration with Nationals, signs for $7.4 million
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Strasburg finished 2014 with a 3.14 ERA and 2.94 FIP, setting a career-high for innings pitched with 215, while striking out 242 batters (tied with Jonny Cueto for most in the NL) and walking just 43. In his third full big league campaign, the right-hander compiled the best strikeout-to-walk ratio of his career before taking a hard-luck loss in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Giants this postseason.
Entering his second year of arbitration eligibility, Strasburg was expected to earn $8.1 million by MLB Trade Rumors. Since returning from Tommy John surgery back in 2012, the 26-year-old has made at least 28 starts in three straight seasons and posted a 3.10 ERA/124 ERA+ with a 10.2 SO/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 557⅓ innings pitched.
That Strasburg is coming off a career year in 2014 likely helped his cause, and if he stays healthy next season, the No. 1 overall 2009 MLB draft pick will be due one of the biggest salaries for an arbitration-eligible pitcher in history.
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