Nationals ownership negotiated with its star free agents through the media Thursday.
Managing principal owner Mark Lerner told NBC Sports Washington's Donald Dell that the club has the money to bring back right-hander Stephen Strasburg or third baseman Anthony Rendon, but not both.
"We really can only afford to have one of those two guys," Lerner told Dell. "They’re huge numbers. We already have a really large payroll to begin with.”
SN's FA PREDICTIONS: Where Strasburg, Rendon may land
According to NBC Sports Washington, Lerner later put the onus on Strasburg and Rendon to work with ownership on new deals.
"We can give them a great offer — which we've done to both of those players. They're great people. We'd be delighted if they stay. But it’s not up to us, it's up to them. That's why they call it free agency," Lerner was quoted as saying.
FAGAN: Yankees smartly aggressive with pursuit of Strasburg, Cole
The world champion Nats have about $91.5 million committed to five players for the 2020 season per Competitive Balance Tax calculations, per Baseball Prospectus. Those commitments do not include a reported two-year, $10 million contract for free-agent catcher Yan Gomes.
Even without Gomes' deal, they're more than halfway toward the $208 million CBT threshold when also factoring in minor league salaries and player benefits. Washington exceeded the $206 million 2019 threshold by $75,844, according to Baseball Prospectus.
Strasburg and Rendon are in line for huge contracts this offseason after leading the Nats to the franchise's first World Series title.
Strasburg, 31, opted out of the final four years of a seven-year, $175 million contract in November. The Yankees are among the teams to have met with Strasburg and agent Scott Boras since then. Rendon, 29 and also a Boras client, made $18.8 million in 2019, per Baseball Prospectus. The Dodgers and Rangers are rumored to be among the most interested outside suitors.
