Washington Nationals Avoid Arbitration With Anthony Rendon And Stephen Strasburg

Today, the Washington Nationals were able to sign Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg to one-year deals, thus avoiding arbitration.

After being able to settle on a one-year contract for Wilson Ramos on Wednesday, the Washington Nationals were able to avoid arbitration with two of their key players. Earlier today, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reported that Anthony Rendon agreed to a one-year, $2.8 million deal. Then, Washington was able to settle with Stephen Strasburg on a one-year, $10,4 million deal in his final year before free agency, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network:

Anthony Rendon agrees to $2.8M deal to avoid arbitration with #Nationals.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) January 15, 2016

Stephen strasburg, nats settle at $10.4M
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 15, 2016

Last season, Rendon had a slash line of .264/.344/.363 with five home runs and 25 RBI’s in 80 games. After finishing fifth in the MVP voting in 2014, the Nats’ third baseman injured his MCL in a spring training game against the Braves back on March 9. As he was trying to come back from that injury, he hurt his oblique on a rehab assignment, which delayed the start of his 2015 season till June. One month later, Rendon would go back on the disabled list with a left quad injury.

The 25-year-old made $2.5 million last season and will be the everyday third baseman in 2016 now that last year’s third baseman, Yunel Escobar, is with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after playing second base a season ago. The Nats still have Rendon under team control until after the 2020 season.

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As for Strasburg, his salary will increased from $7.4 million to the aforementioned $10.4 million. In 23 starts last season, the 27-year-old right-hander went 11-7 with a 3.46 ERA. His 2015 season started on a bad note when he twisted his left ankle in a conditioning drill during spring training. Then, during the first half, he had injuries to his back and oblique.