Mere hours after the Nationals celebratory World Series parade, it was announced Stephen Strasburg reportedly will opt out of the final four years of his deal with the team. This means the Fall Classic's MVP is now on the free agency market.
MLB.com's Mark Feinsand was the first to break the news and it leaves us with a lot of questions, the main one being how will this affect free agency. Another big question ... how will this impact Madison Bumgarner?
For starters, MadBum will take yet another backseat and will no longer be the biggest name in the free agency pool which means he more than likely will not be the one who gets the biggest paycheck.
As Feinsand also reported, this will also shed $100 million of Strasburg's contract. He's going to want a lot of money, and deservedly so.
That pool is filled with a lot of starting pitching talent and MadBum will be in the same group as not only Strasburg who had a sensational season, and career, with the Nationals, but also as Gerrit Cole. The Astros' ace had an AL-leading 2.50 ERA with an MLB-leading 326 strikeouts and 2.64 FIP.
Strasburg's regular-season campaign boasted a 3.32 ERA, and he did become the first pitcher ever to go 5-0 in a single postseason.
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You see what he has to compete with?
Could this create some hope that Bumgarner stays with the Giants? This certainly increases the chances for an organization starving for starting pitching, but what team isn't?
Many players have elected to avoid the free agency process. The way it's taken a slow pace in recent years, it may not be worth it.
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is expecting another long offseason, both for the Giants and MLB.
He gave an expected generic response saying the organization has an interest "in at least having discussions" about some of those players returning.
[RELATED: MLB playoff starters' strength reminiscent of MadBum brilliance]
Despite that pitching hunger wanting to be dedicated to some young arms, there is always a need for a veteran presence on the pitching staff.
Be prepared for another long offseason, folks.
