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Nationals' starting pitchers ranked as two of the worst MLB signings
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- Nationals' starting pitchers ranked as two of the worst MLB signings
Nationals' starting pitchers ranked as two of the worst MLB signings originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
After winning the 2019 World Series (first in team history), the Washington Nationals have not been great since — 354-516 and missed the playoffs every year. The Nationals had a handful of players to thank, such as left-hander Patrick Corbin and right-hander Stephen Strasburg , who received an unforgiving label for their efforts.
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Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin are labeled the worst signings in the Nationals' history
According to ESPN's Bradford Doolittle , Corbin's six-year ($140 million) contract and Strasburg's seven-year ($245 million) contract were the worst signings in Major League Baseball history, despite helping them win the World Series. Without Strasburg, the Nationals probably don't win, as he had a 2.51 ERA and 14 strikeouts in two starts against the Houston Astros .
Corbin also pitched well in the World Series, having a 3.60 ERA in three appearances (one start). 2019 proved to be the only good season Corbin had with the Nationals, leading baseball twice in losses (2021: 16 and 2022: 19) and the National League once (2023: 15) in three straight seasons.
Injuries would derail Strasburg's career after 2019, with him only making eight starts between 2020 and 2022.
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Max Scherzer is the best signing in Nationals history
Right-hander Max Scherzer, another hero from the Nationals' World Series championship team, was given the best signing (seven-year, $210 million) in Nationals history. Signing in 2015, Scherzer would win two of his three Cy Young awards with the Nationals (2016 and 2017), and made six out of his eight All-Star teams.
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