Scherzer and Baker thrilled to see Strasburg locked up with Nats long-term

Right-hander Max Scherzer was in the press room as the Nationals announced Stephen Strasburg's new seven-year, $175 million deal to remain with the club.

"When I was signed here, there were a few other players that were at my signing as well and I always remember that," Scherzer said. "It's important that you show some camaraderie and you show you support your teammates.

"When I heard the news last night that he had signed, I took it upon myself the time to make sure that I was there for him. I'm sure when the next guy signs, Stras will be there for his press conference."

Manager Dusty baker agreed that getting Strasburg in the fold for what could be the remainder of his career is a big deal to any baseball player.

"Any time you work your whole life to get to this point, for security for your family, it's very important what he said about securing your children's children's future," Baker said. "It's great that the organization put faith in him."

Scherzer and Strasburg's contract combined could add up to $385 million locked up into a one-two pitching punch for the Nationals potentially through 2021.

"It's awesome. He's really developing into one of the best pitchers in the game right now," Scherzer said. "He seems to continue to get better every single time that he goes out there. It's really exciting to see this.

"The fact that the Nationals were able to get the deal done with him and lock him up, that's just awesome. I'll be here for another five years, so to have another guy like him on the staff, it's great for us."

In order to finish the deal, Strasburg had to leave the team to get a full physical while the Nationals were in Kansas City on their most recent road trip. No one knew what he was doing. Strasburg kept the information to himself.

"He didn't really sneak out," Baker said. "You guys didn't really miss him," Baker said. "That's the kind of guy he is. Only one of his teammates missed him. Michael Taylor, I think, is the one who missed him.

"I didn't think it would affect him because you can't really tell what affects him, anyway. But I just told him that he'd make a great Marine because he can keep a secret. Under torture or anything, I'd trust him with some national secrets."

Scherzer said Strasburg didn't tell anyone what he was doing, adding to the intrigue even for his teammates.

"He was keeping secrets," Scherzer explained. "When you talked about him leaving in Kansas City, I'm like what the heck is he leaving in Kansas City, it said something about family, what the heck is going on, and he's back the next day. Well, that's odd. Had no idea we were talking about an extension, getting physicals."

Scherzer got his deal done in the offseason. So could it have been a distraction for Strasburg to have all this go on while he is trying to pitch?

"No. It's just what you have to deal with," Scherzer said. "There's always story lines in every single start and everything that's going on. That's just part of the gig of being a Major League Baseball player. You just have to be able deal with it and move on.

"There's so many pressures and so many different things that go on in your life. No matter what's going on in your life that you always have to be able to separate that out and compartmentalize it and be able go on the mound and give it your all and give it your all mentally, too. Nothing changes, that's part of being a big leaguer."

* The Nationals announced they have traded Triple-A Syracuse infielder Brendan Ryan to the Angels for cash considerations.

Ryan was slashing .263/.305/.382 in 21 games with the Chiefs. The 34-year-old played nine seasons with the Cardinals, Mariners and Yankees. He had been assigned to Syracuse on February 8 after signing a minor league contract one week earlier.

The Angels are in need of a shortstop after Andrelton Simmons went down with a torn ligament in his thumb, expected to miss six to eight weeks.