Report: Yankees Don't Expect Strasburg To Leave Washington D.C.

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The Yankees are working to land a frontline starting pitcher with Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg at the top of their list.

While the Bronx Bombers reportedly enjoyed their meeting with the latter, WFAN’s Jon Heyman says the Yankees don’t anticipate Strasburg leaving the Nationals.

Yanks enjoyed their meeting with Strasburg but still would be surprised if he left the Nats. Washington, too, has seemed more confident in Strasburg than Rendon

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 6, 2019

Strasburg has been in Washington D.C. since the Nationals made him the first overall draft pick in 2009. Last season, Strasburg pitched more than 200 innings for the first time since 2014, while helping the Washington Nationals to a World Series championship, proving October dominance with a 1.46 ERA in nine career playoff games.

The World Series MVP opted out of the remaining four years of his contract, with an expectation of capitalizing on his clutch October performance.

Thomas B. Shea/ USA Today Sports

Earlier in the week, the Yankees met with both of their top free-agent targets, believing both meetings went well. Yankees manager Aaron Boone joined WFAN’s Maggie and Bart during their Friday show, saying Strasburg “seemed open-minded,” when asked about trying to lure him away from the Nationals.

Even with a good meeting, it seems the task of getting Strasburg to New York won’t be easy. The Yankees still have another chance at an ace in Gerrit Cole and they’re reportedly prepared to enter a bidding war for the 29-year old pitcher.