Stephen Strasburg’s grim injury outlook just got worse for the Nationals

If the injury outlook for Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg could get any worse,  it’s safe to say it has.

The Washington Nationals were all-in to win the World Series in 2019, and as they did Stephen Strasburg was a key cog. After winning 18 games and pitching 209 innings during that regular season, leading the NL in both categories, he pitched another 36.1 innings in the postseason and won World Series MVP.

Injuries have been a consistent story for Strasburg over his career, since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Nationals in 2009. But over the last few years, it has really ramped up.

Strasburg made just two starts during the truncated 2020 season, as he was shut down due to carpal tunnel syndrome in his right hand. Then he made just five starts in 2021, before being diagnosed with inflammation in his throwing shoulder and eventually having thoracic outlet surgery.

In 2022, he made just one major league start as he attempted to make a return from the thoracic outlet surgery. He was also diagnosed with a stress reaction in his ribs. His status for this season was, and still is, a huge question.

Well, that question may now have a strong answer.

Nationals: Injury outlook for Stephen Strasburg has gotten even worse

According to Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post, citing three people familiar with the situation, Strasburg has not been able to do any rehab activities for more than a month. He missed all of spring training this spring, staying home for the six weeks due to ongoing health complications.

Per Dougherty, those complications include “severe nerve damage.” He’d be eligible to come off the 60-day IL this week if he was able to, but there are no signs that will happen in the near future–if at all.

So naturally, according to Dougherty, there is “increasing doubt the 34-year old right-hander will ever pitch again.”

Strasburg was in a contract year in 2019, and based on his performance he signed a massive seven-year, $245 million contract to stay in Washington. There are still three years left on that deal after this season, at $35 million a year.

Dougherty dropped some sobering details regarding the Nationals and Strasburg’s contract.

"But the Nationals do not have any disability insurance on Strasburg’s contract, according to four people familiar with the situation. The premiums would have been extremely high, two people explained, and that’s assuming the team and a company could have agreed on a policy given Strasburg’s age and extensive injury history. And three people familiar with the situation doubt ownership would have spent on top of the $245 million, even if it provided some financial protection in a worst-case scenario."

Ultimately, the most important thing is Strasburg’s health beyond being able to take the mound. But if an injury outlook (which was extremely iffy anyway) could get worse in terms of if or when he’ll ever pitch again, it certainly has now.