Nationals avoid arbitration with Strasburg
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - The Washington Nationals averted arbitration with Stephen Strasburg by agreeing to terms with the ace pitcher on an undisclosed contract.
Strasburg is in his first season as an arbitration-eligible player after the four-year, $15.1 million major league deal the 2009 No. 1 overall draft pick signed to begin his professional career expired at the conclusion of the 2013 campaign.
The hard-throwing right-hander went just 8-9 this past season, but posted a solid 3.00 earned run average in 30 starts and registered 191 strikeouts in 183 innings. Strasburg earned a spot on the National League All-Star squad the previous year, his first full season since returning from Tommy John surgery, and finished 15-6 with a 3.16 ERA and 197 strikeouts while helping the Nationals to an NL East title.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Strasburg underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow in October, but is expected to be ready when Washington begins spring training next month.