By Agence France-Presse

JOHANNESBURG– The racial transformation of the Springboks roared into overdrive when Siya Kolisi skippered a team including six black players to a Rugby World Cup final triumph over England.

South Africa outplayed the pre-match favorites 32-12 in Japan on Saturday, winning by a much wider margin that even their most partisan supporters anticipated.

And for those who believed black players would strengthen a national team once reserved for whites, it was a day of vindication.

Some white supporters had believed that including blacks would seriously weaken the team and turn the Springboks into rugby also-rans.

Kolisi, who last year became the first black Test skipper of the team after 127 years of whites captaining the green and gold, said racial unity sparked success in Yokohama.

”We have so many problems in our country and this team comes from different backgrounds, different races, but we came together with one goal and we wanted to achieve it,” he said.

”I really hope we’ve done that for South Africa. (It) just shows that we can pull together if we want to achieve something.”

Kolisi said the Springboks had received countless messages from home as the nation rallied behind his team.

”Since I’ve been alive, I’ve never seen South Africa like this,” he said.

“Thank you so much. We love you South Africa and we can achieve anything if we work together as one.”

However, the selection of six black players in a Springbok World Cup final team has been a long and tortuous journey.

There have been highs like the elevation last year of Kolisi to lead a team that for 90 years chose only whites.

There have also been lows, most recently when star lock Eben Etzebeth was accused of assaulting and racially abusing a homeless black man just before flying to Japan.

Etzebeth, who captained the Springboks two seasons ago after first choice Warren Whiteley was injured, denies the allegations.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus is adamant that there are no racists in his charge, telling AFP that “I would not tolerate racism in my squad.

“I can guarantee you that this team is a nice, close-knit one, and there will never be something like that (racism).”

But the coach had to turn firefighter in Japan after celebrations following a mammoth pool win over Italy triggered social media fury.

Branded a ‘sell-out’

Six white reserves excluded black starter Makazole Mapimpi from a huddle and the immediate reaction on social media was that the winger had been racially shunned.

In fact, the “bomb squad”, as the reserves label themselves, always celebrate separately from the starters.

Mapimpi, the second highest try-scorer at this World Cup with six, backed the reserves on Twitter only to be branded a “sell-out”.

Kolisi was also labelled a “sell-out” this year, for suggesting that late former president Nelson Mandela would not have backed Springbok racial quotas.

The 27-year-old, born into poverty in the eastern Cape, does not enjoy being called the first black Test captain of the Springboks.

“That is not a description I find natural,” he admitted to AFP before the tournament. “I’m privileged to captain a team that represents all South Africans.”

Kolisi was born during the death throes of apartheid in 1991 and three years later multiracial elections ushered long-time political prisoner Mandela to power.

Mandela later played a key role in defusing demands from elements within the ruling African National Congress party that the emblem of a leaping Springbok be ditched.

The political icon reasoned that the Springboks were dear to South African whites and he wanted to foster national unity in the aftermath of the divisive apartheid era.

He arrived at the 1995 World Cup final in Johannesburg wearing a replica of the shirt of skipper Francois Pienaar and a mainly white crowd chanted “Nelson, Nelson, Nelson.”

Mandela later presented the trophy to Pienaar after a dramatic triumph over arch-rivals New Zealand, and hopes were high that a new, multi-racial team would be born.

Winger Chester Williams, who died in September of a heart attack, was the lone black in the 1995 team, an unacceptable situation given only 10 percent of the population was white.

But when the Springboks conquered the world again in France 12 years later, there were just two black starters, wingers JP Pietersen and Bryan Habana.

Despite growing government anger at predominantly white teams, a succession of Springbok coaches ignored emerging black stars, until Erasmus assumed control last year.

He offered black players equal opportunities and a record 11 made the trip to Japan with six in the final starting line-up and another on the bench.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By WAYLON GALVEZ

The Philippine Sports Commission is implementing stricter rules and guidelines in providing financial assistance to athletes next year.

PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said only performing athletes would receive assistance next year based on their achievement in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

“An overall assessment of all athletes will be done to identify who among them really deserve funding from the government,” said Ramirez, the PH chef de mission in the SEA Games.

“We have been all out in supporting our athletes for the SEA Games. Starting January, we will make sure that the financial assistance (on all athletes) will be performance-based.”

The government sports agency is backing 1,115 Filipino athletes from 56 different sports in the biennial meet set Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 SEA Games to be held in Metro Manila, Clark and Subic.

The PSC has allocated over P1.2 billion for the training, foreign exposure, allowances and needs of Filipino athletes and their coaches, as well as for the purchase of equipment.

According to Ramirez, the PSC will categorize athletes and sports into three tiers.

Tier 1 will be composed of athletes who have given pride and honor to the country in high-level tournaments overseas.

So far, the sports agency has already identified at least 20 athletes, including world champions Carlos Edriel Yulo of gymnastics and Nesthy Petecio (boxing), Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting) and Asian champions EJ Obiena (pole vault) and skateboarder Margielyn Didal.

“They will get all the necessary financial support needed for them to succeed,” Ramirez said.

Different national sports associations whose athletes don’t belong in tier 1 but deserve PSC support will be gathered in tier 2 while non-performing sports and their athletes will comprise tier 3.

“Most of the countries that are successful identify the focus sports where majority of the budget pie goes,’’ said Ramirez.

“We cannot do it here because we must help even those who didn’t perform well. But those athletes we know who are capable of winning will definitely get a much bigger allocation.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The song “Baby Shark” blared over loudspeakers and a wave of red washed across this politically blue capital Saturday as Nationals fans rejoiced at a parade marking Washington’s first World Series victory since 1924.

“They say good things come to those who wait. Ninety-five years is a pretty long wait,” Nationals owner Ted Lerner, 94, told the cheering crowd. “But I’ll tell you, this is worth the wait.”

As buses carrying the players and team officials wended their way along the parade route, pitcher Max Scherzer at one point hoisted the World Series trophy to the cheers of the crowd.

At a rally just blocks from the Capitol, Scherzer said his teammates grinded their hearts out to “stay in the fight.”

And then, after backup outfielder Gerardo Parra joined the team, he said, they started dancing and having fun.

And they started hitting. “Never in this town have you seen a team compete with so much heart and so much fight,” he said.

And then, after he spoke, the Nats danced.

Team officials, Nationals manager Dave Martinez and several players thanked the fans for their support through the best of times and staying with them even after a dismal 19-31 start to the season. “I created the circle of trust and I trusted these guys,” he said.

The camaraderie among the players was a theme heard throughout the rally. “It took all 25 of us, every single day we were pulling for each other,” said pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the World Series MVP.

Nationals veteran slugger Howie Kendrick, 36, said that when he came to the Nationals in 2017, “I was thinking about retiring. This city taught me to love baseball again.”

Another veteran, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, choked back tears as he recalled how he and the fans grew up together. He was 20 when he joined the Nationals during their first season, in 2005.

“I got guys that come up to me now that are 30 years old and said I’ve been their favorite player since they were a little kid, which is disturbing — basically like Juan,” he said.

It was a reference to Juan Soto, the left fielder who turned 21 during the series.

Washington had been thirsting for a World Series championship for nearly a century.

The Nationals gave them that by winning in seven games over the Houston Astros; the clincher came on the road Wednesday night.

“I just wish they could have won in DC,” said Ronald Saunders of Washington, who came with a Little League team that was marching in the parade.

Nick Hashimoto of Dulles, Virginia, was among those who arrived at 5 a.m. to snag a front-row spot. He brought his own baby shark toy in honor of Parra’s walk-up song, which began as a parental tribute to the musical taste of his 2-year-old daughter and ended up as a rallying cry that united fans at Nationals Park and his teammates.

As “Baby Shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo” played on a crisp morning, early risers joined in with the trademark response — arms extended in a chomping motion. Chants of “Let’s go Nats!” resonated from the crowd hours before the rally.

Kimberly Ballou of Silver Spring, Maryland, said sports “is a unifier” that transcends race, gender and class and brings people together.

The crowd along the route was deeply packed. Cheers went up and fans waved red streamers, hand towels and signs that said “Fight Finished” as the players rode by on the open top of double-decker buses.

General Manager Mike Rizzo, a cigar in his mouth, jumped off with the World Series trophy to show the fans lining the barricades and slap high-fives. Manager Martinez also got in on the fun.

“We know what this title means to DC, a true baseball town, from the Senators to the Grays and now the Nationals,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said. “By finishing the fight you have brought a tremendous amount of joy to our town and inspired a new generation of players and Nationals fans.”

Bowser added: “We are deeply proud of you and I think we should do it again next year. What do you think?” Then she started a chant of “Back to back! Back to back!”

Martinez said he liked to hear the mayor pushing for back-to-back championships and said: “I get it. I’m all in. But let me enjoy this one first. I don’t know if my heart can take any more of this right now. I need to just step back and enjoy this.”

Martinez, who had a heart procedure recently, said that during the Series, as things heated up, players and fans shouted at him to watch out for his heart. “All this right here has cured my heart,” he said.

And as the “Baby Shark” theme played once more, team owner Lerner told the team’s veterans, “From now on, you can call me ‘Grandpa Shark.’”

President Donald Trump has invited the Nationals to the White House on Monday, though relief pitcher Sean Doolittle doesn’t plan to attend.

“There’s a lot of things, policies that I disagree with, but at the end of the day, it has more to do with the divisive rhetoric and the enabling of conspiracy theories and widening the divide in this country,” Doolittle told The Washington Post.

Doolittle found support from Larry Stokes of Boyds, Maryland, citing Trump’s stand on immigrants. “They’re playing this game, but he doesn’t like immigrants,” Stokes said.

But to fan Bridget Chapin, who came from Burke, Virginia, with her husband, Mark, “Regardless of how you feel, you go to the Oval Office. I’m really weary of athletes making political statements. I watch sports to get away from all that.”

The president attended Game 5 in Washington and was greeted with loud boos when he was shown on the giant video screen during a tribute to veterans. The boos more than overwhelmed a scattering of cheers.

Delores Smith of Washington, a longtime baseball fan who said she had an uncle who pitched in the Negro Leagues, said the World Series was “a big win” for the city. “This is the first time in a long time that I’ve seen the whole city come together. There’s no fussing about Trump.”

Even with the threat of stars leaving for free agency — as outfielder Bryce Harper did after 2018 — fans hoped the Nationals’ success would continue.

“I don’t think it’s going to be our last time. This team, even when our last superstar left, this team rallied around, they played as a team,” Larry Stokes said.

Fans — and shortstop Trea Turner — urged the Nationals to re-sign third baseman Anthony Rendon, who was greeted with chants of MVP.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

SHENZHEN, China — Top-ranked Ashleigh Barty advanced Saturday to the finals of the WTA Finals where she faces defending champion Elina Svitolina, a player she has never beaten in five previous attempts.

Barty, like Svitolina, dropped the opening set of her semifinal before beating second-ranked Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

“I felt like the whole match was an incredibly high level,” Barty said. “I’m just pleased to get another chance to play out here. It’s a match I can come out and try to enjoy. I have nothing to lose. It’s an opportunity against a really tough player.”

Belinda Bencic retired in the third set as Svitolina outlasted the injured Swiss to win 5-7, 6-3, 4-1 and reach her second straight final at the WTA Finals.

“It’s still kind of like not realizing that I’m in the final,” Svitolina said, but added “it’s tough to play someone who has been injured.”

This has been a standout season for Barty, who won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open, and attained top ranking for the first time. Barty is Australia’s first female year-end No. 1.

Barty said “it’s been an incredible year for myself and my team,” and called Sunday’s final “the perfect way to cap it off.”

She is relishing the opportunity to try and finally beat Svitolina.

“I have an opportunity to try something different,” Barty said. “Previously what we’ve done hasn’t quite worked or I haven’t executed well enough over a long enough period to be effective.”

Barty posted 11 aces to only one for Pliskova.

This marked the third consecutive year that Pliskova had advanced to the semifinals, but she’s yet to contest for the title in a final.

Bencic was already struggling before the end of the first set, which she won. Bencic later said it was a hamstring problem and cramping.

Svitolina had made it through the group stage without dropping a set. Winning the WTA Finals in Singapore last season remains the biggest title of her career.

After holding serve to lead 6-5 in the first set against Svitolina, Bencic received a medical timeout to have treatment during the changeover. Back on court, Bencic took the set on her third set point with a backhand down-the-line winner.

But the leg injury caused more problems for Bencic, allowing Svitolina to gain control of the match.

Bencic, who lost her serve in the first and ninth games of the second set, received further treatment when trailing 1-2 and 3-4 at the changeovers.

In the third set, Svitolina went ahead 3-0, and by 4-1 Bencic couldn’t continue.

Bencic said the slowness of the court hindered movement, although Svitolina appears to enjoy the surface.

“I really didn’t want to retire,” Bencic said. “I wanted to finish the match. It was not possible. I’m really disappointed about how my body failed me.

“Also, I think these courts are really not ideal.”

Naomi Osaka, the reigning Australian Open champion, withdrew ahead of her second round-robin match with a right shoulder injury.

Reigning U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu withdrew before her third round-robin match after injuring her knee in the previous match.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

PARIS— Injury blighted Rafael Nadal again as he pulled out of his Paris Masters semifinals on Saturday, meaning top-ranked Novak Djokovic will go for his fifth title at the indoor tournament against Denis Shapovalov.

Fans hopeful of seeing a 55th career matchup between Nadal and Djokovic in Sunday’s final were disappointed to learn, moments before the second semifinal was scheduled to begin, that Nadal withdrew because of an abdominal injury.

The same injury forced Nadal out just before the start of last year’s tournament at Bercy Arena and ended his season.

“I went through this in the past, so that’s why the recommendation of the doctors (was) to not play,” Nadal said. “I have to take that decision.”

The second-ranked Spaniard said he felt the injury flare up in the morning as he practiced a few hours before facing the 20-year-old Canadian. A scan revealed a small strain.

Nadal returned to practice and still felt pain serving. He decided it wasn’t worth risking a bigger injury.

Last year, Nadal missed the season-ending ATP Finals in London because of the abdominal injury, but hopes he can recover in time for this year’s finals starting on Nov. 10.

“I hope to be ready for London, that’s the biggest goal now,” he said. “I will do all what’s possible to recover for it.”

Earlier, Djokovic reached his sixth Paris Masters final beating Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (5), 6-4.

He is aiming for a 77th career title, a 34th in Masters events. He has a 3-0 record against Shapovalov, who is playing in only his second career final and his first at a Masters.

“Well, of course it’s not the way I want to reach my first finals,” Shapovalov said, referring to Nadal’s injury. “But nonetheless it’s a great opportunity for me … I’m not one to cut down risk, so I’m going to go for it.”

In a tight opening set where neither faced a break point, Dimitrov cracked in the tiebreaker faced with the defensive resilience of Djokovic.

With Dimitrov up 5-4 and controlling the exchanges, a 32-stroke rally ended when he advanced to the net and tried an extravagant forehand volley to the left. He could have played an easier shot with a controlled backhand to the vacant right side of the court.

The ball landed out and Djokovic punched the air, roaring in relief.

Then, on set point, a 35-stroke rally ended when Dimitrov chopped a backhand long.

“He was probably the better player in the tiebreak. I managed to get returns into play and just make him play an extra shot,” Djokovic said. “We both really understood the importance of clinching the first set so we could feel a bit more relaxed in the second and start swinging through.”

Djokovic broke Dimitrov in the fifth game of the second set when the unseeded Bulgarian swatted a forehand long.
Serving for the match, Djokovic held to love.

Djokovic won his first title here 10 years ago and three straight from 2013-15. He lost his only final last year to Karen Khachanov.

He is bidding to finish the year as No. 1 for the sixth time, which would move him one ahead of Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors, and into a tie with all-time leader Pete Sampras.

Nadal is looking to seal the year-end top ranking for the fifth time.

His injury last year ensured Djokovic ended as No. 1.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

NEW YORK— President Donald Trump was on his feet for the main event as Jorge Masvidal defeated a bloodied Nate Diaz via TKO before the fourth round at UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wrapped a crudely named, made-for-PPV baddest man in MMA title belt around Masvidal’s waist as nearly 20,000 fans howled in protest of the quick finish.

Masvidal dominated the first three rounds and opened cuts above Diaz’s eyes that turned his face into a crimson mask.

The assigned doctor for the New York State Athletic Commission stopped the fight just before the fourth round. Both fighters felt the bout should continue.

“I was hyped, I was ready to go,” Diaz said. “I come in here to fight. It’s not my fault the doctor stopped it. We’ll run it back, though.”

Johnson walked out holding the $50,000 Baddest Mother (Censored!) championship belt to a thunderous ovation as his WWE theme music hit. Trump, who became the first president to attend a UFC card, clapped for Johnson and stayed on his feet for the furious early rounds.

Masvidal charged at Diaz once the initial bell rang before he pulled up and smiled, a nod to his UFC-record 5-second KO of Ben Askren in his last fight.

Trump and his adult sons stood as Masvidal took quick control and pounded on Diaz. Diaz had a gash open over his right eye, his face bloodied as he lay on his back trying to kick away Diaz.

The partisan crowd took turns chanting “Diaz!” and “Jorge!” and The Rock sat stone-faced, nodding at the biggest haymakers. Diaz staked his claim as the BMF — if the B stood for bloodiest — when he flexed for the crowd to end the second as blood poured down his face.

The doc wouldn’t let the fight go into a fourth and the 170-pound bout was over, though a BMF rematch could be on the horizon.

“Let me heal up and let’s go again,” Diaz said.

The president appeared pleased with the card, staying for the entire 4-plus hour show.

The packed house at the Garden stood and had their phones out, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the president as he took his cageside seat. Trump smiled and waved to fans as AC/DC’s “Back in Black” was blasted over the speakers shortly before the start of the 10 p.m. event.

Trump received a mixed reaction, though nothing quite as derisive as the boos and “Lock him up!” chants he received last week at the World Series.

Trump hugged boxing legend Roberto Duran as they posed for a picture and sat in the same row as UFC President Dana White. Trump is tight with White, a relationship that dates to UFC’s formative years before its rise into a billion dollar promotion.

New Jersey was one of the first states that embraced UFC, and White credits cards at the Trump Taj Mahal for helping the company grow into a heavyweight in the sports world. White spoke at Trump’s request at the Republican National Convention and they are occasional dining partners.

Trump wore a suit and red tie, and sat with sons Donald Jr. and Eric, several congressional Republicans and sports personalities just out of range of potential blood splatter.

Trump Jr. tweeted White told the family, “it was the most electrifying entrance he seen in 25 years of doing this .”

The Trump brothers sat cageside in August in New Jersey in support of Trump fan Colby Covington.

Taking a break from an impeachment inquiry, Trump could only hope the first fight of the pay-per-view wasn’t a sign of things to come — a devastating KO from the left.

He rose from his seat like the rest of the fans when Kevin Lee knocked out Gregor Gillespie with a left leg kick to the head. Gillespie bounced off the cage and lay motionless, out cold on the mat for a minute or so.

Trump didn’t react as he watched the replay and applauded just like a regular fight fan when Gillespie finally came around and got to his corner. He did not appear to sing along to Darren Till’s “Sweet Caroline” walkout music.

Derrick Lewis won his heavyweight bout and gave Trump a shoutout from inside the cage, saying “I know everything ain’t going so good in the White House. You gotta turn that … around in 2020.”

Protesters outside MSG chanted “Danger, danger, there’s a Fascist in the White House,” over a bullhorn and held signs that read “Trump/Pence Out Now!” Once the fights started, there were no noticeable signs or sustained calls of support or protest for Trump. The only jabs were delivered inside the fenced-in, 4-foot octagon came from the fighters. Lewis was the only winner who mentioned Trump, and the crowd of nearly 20,000 seemed largely uninterested in him.

The Rock and the president overshadowed a wildly entertaining card that had the Garden rocking in nearly every bout.

The former WWE champ is the biggest box office star in Hollywood, with his “Jumanji” follow up out later this year.

Johnson also announced his Seven Bucks Productions company is working on a biopic on retired MMA star Mark Kerr. Kerr won consecutive UFC heavyweight tournaments in the company’s infancy and later battled serious addiction issues. Johnson is set to star as the fighter known as the “Smashing Machine.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

LAS VEGAS— Canelo Alvarez used a big punch to beat a big fighter.

Alvarez landed a left-right late in the 11th round Saturday night, dropping Sergey Kovalev to the canvas and ending their light heavyweight title fight. Kovalev was left on his knees, his arms draped over the middle ring rope as the fight was stopped at 2:15 of the round.

It was a dramatic finish for a fight that had little drama up to the knockdown. Kovalev was more than holding his own late in the fight and hadn’t been hurt when Alvarez landed the left followed by a right.

The Mexican great, who moved up two weight classes, won his fourth title in as many weights. He celebrated by kissing the glove on his right hand as Kovalev’s handlers jumped into the ring to see if their fighter was OK.

The punch was one Alvarez had been looking for the entire fight, stalking Kovalev while taking a lot of jabs and right hands to the face.

Both fighters fought cautiously for the most part, with Kovalev content to use his jab from long distance and Alvarez looking to land hooks to the body.

The crowd at the MGM Grand booed on several occasions, unhappy with the lack of action.

Alvarez was a 4-1 favorite despite moving up two weight classes to fight for a piece of Kovalev’s 175-pound title. He took the fight against Kovalev rather than a third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin as part of a $365 million deal he signed with the streaming service DAZN.

Both fighters took naps in their dressing rooms as they waited some 90 minutes from the last undercard bout before entering the ring. The delay was for DAZN, which wanted to wait until the UFC card in New York was finished before the fight began.

Fans at the MGM Grand arena watched the UFC main event on big screens in the arena while the fighters waited.

Kovalev controlled the distance early with his jab, sticking it in Alvarez’s face as he plodded ahead with gloves held high looking for an opening on the inside.

Alvarez threw punches sparingly, winging a few big punches that missed as Alvarez came back with jabs and an occasional right hand.

But Alvarez began finding the range with his left hook in the middle rounds, working Kovalev’s body and trying to wear him down. He kept advancing with gloves held close to his face, putting pressure on his bigger opponent.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Grandmaster Wesley So outclassed reigning world classical titlist Magnus Carlsen 13.5-2.5 to emerge as the inaugural champion of the World Fischer Random Chess Championship in Hovikodden, Norway on Sunday.

It was a one-sided affair for So, who was born in Cavite but who now represents the United States, as he went unbeaten with four wins and two draws, needing just six of the scheduled 12 games to topple Carlsen.

After drawing the first game and winning the other three of the “slow rapid” games Friday and Saturday, So split the point with Carlsen in 28 moves of the first “fast rapid” game and then overwhelmed the latter in 29 moves in the next match to claim the distinction as the first world champion of the new chess variant.

So finished off Carlsen with still six games to be played; the next two would have been in fast rapid and the last four in blitz.

The 26-year-old So left the country five years ago for the United States to pursue a dream of becoming world champion.

He eventually achieved that goal but only in a different chess category conceptualized by the late former American world champion Bobby Fischer with the goal of quashing overreliance on chess engines while promoting resourcefulness and creativity.

So is rated No. 8 in the latest FIDE rankings, with Carlsen at No. 1.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

NEW YORK— Aroldis Chapman is staying with the New York Yankees, amending his contract to a $48 million, three-year deal.

The 31-year-old All-Star closer had been owed $15 million in each of the next two seasons as part of an $86 million, five-year contract, and he had the right to opt out of the deal and become a free agent.

The left-hander’s amended deal includes salaries of $16 million annually and a full no-trade provision.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

NEW YORK— Stephen Strasburg opted out of the final four years of his contract with the Washington Nationals, three days after the star pitcher was chosen MVP of the World Series.

The move Saturday makes the 31-year-old right-hander a free agent. Strasburg gave up $100 million he had been guaranteed from 2020-23 as part of a $175 million, seven-year contract he agreed to with the Nationals in May 2016.

Strasburg was 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA this season, topping 30 starts for the second time in his career and leading the NL with 209 innings pitched. Then he went 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in five postseason starts and one relief appearance, including wins in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series against Houston.

Washington also won Game 7 to claim the first championship in franchise history.

Just a few days later, however, the roster has already begun to change.

The club declined its $18 million option for next season on 35-year-old first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, the only player who has been a member of every Nats team since the franchise moved from Montreal to Washington before the 2005 season. Zimmerman gets a $2 million buyout.

Washington also turned down a $9 million option on catcher Yan Gomes, who receives a $1 million buyout.

In a career interrupted by Tommy John surgery shortly after his spectacular major league debut in 2010, Strasburg is 112-58 with a 3.17 ERA and 1,695 strikeouts in parts of 10 seasons.

He joins a free agent market that includes several other accomplished starting pitchers, such as Gerrit Cole, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Zack Wheeler, Madison Bumgarner, Rick Porcello, Cole Hamels, Jake Odorizzi and Dallas Keuchel. Cole, like Strasburg represented by Scott Boras, is expected to get a record contract for a pitcher, topping David Price’s $217 million, seven-year deal with Boston before the 2016 season and Justin Verlander’s $31.33 million average salary under a three-year deal with the Astros that started in 2019.

Strasburg, two years older than Cole, likely would command a lower price because of age and durability. He was on the disabled list during seven of his 10 seasons, all but 2012, 2014 and this year.

His 10 DL trips were caused by right shoulder inflammation and then a torn elbow ligament in 2010, recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2011, a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle in 2013, neck tightness and then a left oblique strain in 2015, right elbow inflammation in 2016, a right elbow nerve impingement in 2017 and right shoulder inflammation and then a cervical nerve impingement in 2018.

Because Strasburg opted out, the $30 million deferred from his 2019 salary becomes due in three $10 million payments on each July 1 from 2020-22. The deal included a $10 million signing bonus that was payable July 1 this year and salaries of $15 million in both 2017 and 2018.

All-Star third baseman Anthony Rendon, another key component of the Nationals’ title, also is a free agent represented by Boras.

Source: Manila Bulletin