Strasburg, Nationals Agree On Record 7-Year, $245M Deal

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The Yankees' Plan B for starting pitching help is no longer an option.

Free agent Stephen Strasburg has agreed to return to the Washington Nationals on a seven-year, $245 million contract, WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman reported Monday. 

It's a record deal, eclipsing the seven-year, $217 million contract David Price signed with the Boston Red Sox in December 2015 and surpassing the $34.4 million average annual salary that Houston's Zack Greinke receives. (Strasburg will earn $35 million a year.)

Stephen Strasburg throws a pitch against the Houston Astros in the first inning in game six of the 2019 World Series Oct 29, 2019; Houston, TXMike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

But it's likely going to be a short-lived record, as Gerrit Cole, widely considered to be the top free agent pitcher available, is expected to sign for more.

The Yankees met with both Strasburg and Cole last week in California, but Cole is reportedly the organization's focus. The New York Times reported Sunday that the Yankees have made a seven-year, $245 million offer to Cole, but USA Today disputed that report, saying no offer is yet on the table.

A three-time All-Star, Strasburg has gone 112-58 with a 3.17 ERA in 10 seasons with the Nationals, who drafted him first overall in 2009. Last season, the right-hander went 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA and 251 strikeouts. He was named World Series MVP after going 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA and striking out 14 batters against the Houston Astros.