Stephen Strasburg plans to test the open market at the end of 2016 and will not discuss a new contract with the Washington Nationals during the season.
Strasburg, the No. 2 starter for the Nationals behind Max Scherzer, agreed to a one-year, $10.4 million contract to avoid salary arbitration, but agent Scott Boras said no further talks are planned on a long-term extension with the team that drafted Strasburg No. 1 overall in 2009 draft.
Strasburg will be just 28 when he hits the market if he sticks to the plan to test free agency. Given the market for starting pitchers, Strasburg might command $25 million to $30 million per season, the stratosphere created this offseason for free agents David Price (Red Sox) and Zack Grienke (Diamondbacks).
Strasburg, 27, was 11-7 last season but shoulder and back issues limited him to 23 starts. He had surgery on his back to remove a benign growth that is not expected to be a factor in spring training or the regular season.
—Designated hitter Evan Gattis avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.4 million contract with the Houston Astros.
Gattis was asking for $3.85 million and the Astros came in at closer to $3 million.
Gattis had sports hernia surgery and is likely to be limited if available on Opening Day. General manager Jeff Luhnow said last week the recovery time was a very rough estimate and Gattis will play when he’s ready. That date could move up, or back, from the initial four to six weeks the team was given.
—Two minor league players were suspended for violations of the baseball’s drug prevention and treatment program.
Brandon Mann, a left-handed pitcher in the Oakland Athletics’ organization, was suspended for 80 games and Richie Tate, a right-hander in the Atlanta Braves’ farm system, was banished for 100 games without pay.
Mann’s suspension resulted from a positive test for Ostarine, a selective androgen receptor modulator and performance-enhancing substance. He is on the A’s Triple-A roster in Nashville. Tate, who is on the Carolina Mudcats’ roster in the Class A Carolina League, tested positive for the third time for a drug of abuse.
—The Boston Red Sox signed reliever Carlos Marmol to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
The 33-year-old veteran has a career 23-35 record with 117 saves and a 3.57 ERA with the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins. He was an All-Star in 2008 while pitching for the Cubs. Last season, the right-hander pitched for Columbus, the Cleveland Indians’ Triple-A affiliate, and went 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 28 appearances, posting 27 walks and 48 strikeouts in 31 innings.
Control issues have plagued Marmol throughout his major league career. He last pitched in the majors for the Marlins in 2014, going 0-3 with an 8.10 ERA, 10 walks and 14 strikeouts 13 1/3 innings spanning 15 appearances.