Baseball Notes: Nationals announce $175M, 7-year deal with Strasburg

A day after Stephen Strasburg deflected questions about a new contract, the Washington Nationals announced that they had, indeed, agreed to a seven-year deal with the right-hander that starts next season.

The team scheduled a news conference at Nationals Park on Tuesday with Strasburg. He is surprisingly skipping his first chance at free agency to stay with the club that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2009 and – in a move debated around baseball – shut him down before the playoffs in 2012 to protect the pitcher’s surgically repaired right elbow.

According to a person familiar with the negotiations, the agreement calls for total payments of $175 million starting in 2017, but it includes $70 million in deferred money. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Nationals did not reveal the financial terms of the deal.

If he stays for the full seven seasons, Strasburg would get $15 million each year from 2017-23, followed by seven $10 million payments each July 1 from 2024-30. The use of a deferral structure is similar to the $210 million, seven-year deal that the Nationals gave another Scott Boras client, right-hander Max Scherzer, before last season.

Strasburg would earn a $1 million performance bonus each year for pitching 180 innings.

MLB reviewing confrontation

Major League Baseball is reviewing Nationals slugger Bryce Harper’s confrontation with an umpire to decide whether he should be disciplined.

During the bottom of the ninth of Washington’s 5-4 victory over Detroit, Harper did not leave the dugout when he was ejected by plate umpire Brian Knight after Nationals batter Danny Espinosa was called out on strikes.

Rounding the bases

The Braves placed right-hander Jim Johnson on the 15-day disabled list with a right groin strain and recalled left-hander Ian Krol from Triple-A Gwinnett. The Braves also activated infielder Gordon Beckham from the disabled list before Tuesday night’s game against the Phillies. …Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco had surgery on his left shoulder, which was damaged worse than expected. He’ll have a six-month rehabilitation program. …Marlins right hander Nefi Ogando has been placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken rib on his right side. …The Diamondbacks agreed to terms on a minor league contract with Michael Bourn and assigned him to Double-A Mobile. …The Nationals say they have traded infielder Brendan Ryan to the Angels for cash considerations. …Royals pitcher Chris Young said he will return to Kansas City on Wednesday to have an MRI of his right forearm. …Twins pitcher Logan Lombana has been suspended for 80 games and Blue Jays pitcher Clinton Hollon for 50 games under baseball’s minor league drug program. …Kansas City Royals infield prospect Raul Mondesi was suspended for 50 games following a positive test for Clenbuterol.