Stephen Strasburg is skipping his first shot at free agency, instead agreeing to a new contract with the Washington Nationals that will pay the pitcher $175 million over seven seasons starting in 2017, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday night - while Strasburg was pitching against the Detroit Tigers - because the Nationals had not announced the deal. Asked about his comfort level in Washington, Strasburg answered: ''Growing up in Southern California, San Diego, all my life and stuff, the East Coast is a little bit of a change. More...