Right-hander Marcus Stroman expressed frustration toward the Blue Jays on Sunday for not offering him a contract extension during the offseason. However, Stroman’s claim was refuted by an industry source, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports. Whether or not the team did submit an offer(s), no deal has come to fruition, leaving Stroman in his penultimate year of club control. While Stroman generally thrived in Toronto from 2014-17, last season was a different story as the 27-year-old battled injuries and a downturn in production. This offseason may not have been the ideal for Stroman to ink an extension, then, though he insisted Sunday he “embodies the city of Toronto” more than anyone and wants to be there “for a long time.”
Here’s more on the game’s East divisions:
- Philadelphia has been chasing free agent Manny Machado for months, but if the team doesn’t sign him, it appears it’ll go forward with Maikel Franco and Scott Kingery at third base. The Phillies “seem cool” on the possibility of signing Mike Moustakas or another non-Machado free agent to man the position, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com writes. The club’s of the belief that Franco and Kingery are “two really good options,” according to general manager Matt Klentak. The 26-year-old Franco wasn’t much different offensively than Moustakas in 2018, though the latter trumped the former as a defender. Kingery had a disastrous rookie season at the plate, but the Phillies remain high on the 24-year-old, whom they signed to a long-term deal last March before he ever accrued a major league at-bat.
- Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez is only a year removed from a protracted trip to free agency – one that culminated in late February with a five-year, $110MM guarantee. While the open market has frustrated many players over the past 16 months, Martinez may head back to free agency as early as next winter if he opts out of his contract after the season. The 31-year-old said Sunday that the cases of still-unemployed superstars Machado and Bryce Harper won’t play much of a role in his forthcoming decision, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. “At the end of the day, I know my value and I know what I bring to the table,” said Martinez – who, like Harper, is a Scott Boras client. “I really don’t look at that. I really judge me on me.” Regardless of whether Martinez does vacate his current contract next offseason, the offensive dynamo noted he’d “love” to continue his career in Boston, which he helped lead to a World Series title in 2018.
- First baseman Peter Alonso, MLB.com’s 51st-ranked prospect, may be able to help the Mets as early as Opening Day, though whether he’ll make the team’s roster is in question. The Mets would gain an extra year of control over Alonso, 24, by keeping him in the minors until at least mid-April, after all. However, New York – led by general manager Brodie Van Wagenen – insists having seven years of control over Alonso instead of six won’t factor into whether he cracks its season-opening roster in 2019, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com relays. “Our management’s going to fight for [Alonso],” said manager Mickey Callaway. “I think Brodie’s made it clear that he’s a players’ guy. And if he deserves it, he’s going to be on the team.” The main player standing in Alonso’s way appears to be Todd Frazier – the Mets’ projected starter at first – but the 33-year-old is coming off a poor year. Alonso, on the other hand, was highly productive in Double-A and Triple-A stints last season.
Stroman is not the embodiment of Toronto.
If Stroman is inferring that the world revolves around him, much the same way that Torontonians think the country of Canada revolves around them…. I’d say his self analysis is spot on
I would’ve used self=entitled and self-important. But yeah, Buhner’s not far off the mark.
Have you ever been to Montreal??
I forget about Montreal being part of the country as sometimes they wish they weren’t.
Seeing as 82% of Quebecors now feel Quebec should remain in Canada, I would say that is patently false.
I guess “sometimes” wasn’t enough to convince you I was kidding. The serious police has spoken!
Toronto is the 4th largest city in North America. It is the absolute linch-pin of the Canadian economy. Whether or not you like that fact is irrelevant. And given the Jays current lack of pitching depth I’m thinking the same can be said of Stroman.
Here’s Marcus…here’s an offer for your 5-and a half ERA:
5-years, $10-mil plus a team option of $2.5 mil. Incentives include:
– $5-mil dollars for winning the Cy Young
– Additional $5-mil on-top if you win the MVP
– $2.5 mil for every season you make the Top 10 in wins
– $2.5 mil for every season you make the Top 5 in ERA
– $1-mil bonus for making 30 starts or more in a season
– Additional $1-mil for reaching 180 innings, and another $1-mil on-top for breaking 200 innings.
– A $1-mil bonus for making the postseason, and another $1.5-mil for reaching the WS
– $1-mil bonus if you win the MVP in any playoff series
With that 5+ ERA last season you’ve earned that extension.
How about an additional $5 million per year if he keeps his mouth shut.
$1 million if he’s elected Mayor
$6.66 million if he brings Rob Ford back to life
Entitled much? Rough injury plagued year last year aside, he will have no problem getting a multiyear contract on the open market. You know some people think it’s a good thing when a young pitcher with a high ceiling wants to stay local. Maybe fans like you are the reason why good players always seem to leave Toronto in free agency
Bels….your point basically proves my point and the point from the front office; why give him a multiyear deal if he had an injury=plagued 20`18? Why give him a multiyear deal if he has an injury plagued 2019? Why give him a multiyear deal when the Jays need him to perform and be traded for future chips?
Maybe it’s fans like you that destroy franchises with inept spending and incompetent management. You must be a longtime Leafs fan.
I know I am in the minority here but I believe JD won’t take the first opt out… he was alone in free agency and he knows the lag.. I know he thinks he is worth around 25mm a year but fact is no teams share that feeling. Same thing with David Price. He knew no one will value him more than the 31mm he is making.
All well said. I too can’t see him taking the first opt out. Though having another monster year could change that in a blink.
How about the market for Stanton’s opt year?
David Price had to know that, yet 3 hours after winning the World Series he went on twitter to say “I hold all the cards now.” I’d love to see what his offers would have looked like.
That comment had NOTHING to do with his contract! It was directed at the media that would constantly write that he can’t win in October.
I think it all depends on whether the DH is added to the NL for 202 if so his market increases by 10-12 teams. Like ATL, Wash, Padres, Rockies, cardinals, cubs, etc just to name a few.
His money hungry agent will get him to go out again as he will with Bogarts n Betts. Boris is a money grubbing agent, n will never let them take anything but being a FA.
“will never let them take anything but FA” You do know the agent works for the player don’t you pasha?
Yes I do know, but……the player is just a puppet for Boris. Most players leave everything up to them. I have NEVER heard a player take over n take a contract offer Boris didn’t approve of.
2004. Jason Varitek re-signs with the Red Sox.
If Martinez would “love to continue his career in Boston,” just don’t opt out. Boom! Problem solved.
None of these players tend to use simple logic. It’s all about the Benjamin’s Baby…
Yes, but he’d love to stay here but Boston’s a big old meanie by not paying him the $30M annually that he thinks he’s worth (since they are paying Price that and he’s pissed because he’s a better player than Price) so his love for staying in Boston is contingent on getting more money. (Translation)
Xactly , but Boris will see yo it to get him to opt out. I wonder what he fill their head with?
Stroman needs to keep his mouth shut. It’s nice to have a player that likes Toronto and wants to stay, but I’d almost rather he leave so we don’t have to listen to his prima donna mouth any more.
He’s not the kind of player you want on a young team.
I think he leaves. Good players usually end up leaving Toronto in free agency, usually due to the unbelievably entitled fanbase
I didn’t know that. Makes sense that my commitment to the Jays, or lack thereof, causes players to leave. I wish I had cheered harder (?) for Halladay, Price, Tulo, Josh and all them guys.
You could say every teams fanbase acts entitled really.
Regarding Peter Alonso – no matter what he does in Spring Training I would send him back down to AAA until Mets get that 7th year of control. With J.D. Davis and Todd Frazier the Mets will have a power hitting first baseman no matter who starts.
totally agreed, no reason to lose a year of control if he isnt playing every single day, and he wont be with those 2 around.
@ dfr3y
Sending him down to accrue 7th year of control is best for the Mets in the long term and they should do that even with the blowback the Mets will get from angry fans and media Mets bashing.
If Alonso has bad spring, and Frazier and/or JD Davis have good spring, there will be more justification for the move.
If the opposite occurs, it’s going to be really hard to justify it on purely baseball terms.
It’s not a question of maintaining an extra year of control, he still needs to improve areas of his game. After getting promoted to AAA power remained but walks and BA went down while he stroke out more. That points to the need for more exposure to tougher competition before letting him reach the majors, though he may not be too far away
@whynot
I don’t disagree but Brodie can’t put the genie back in the bag after stipulating Alonso could be our opening day first baseman.
That statement indicates he believes he’s good enough to start for the Mets as soon as opening day if he proves himself in Spring Training. Essentially, Brodie’s by-passing the weaker parts of Alonso’s AAA performance by giving him the AZ Fall League, Spring Training and the offseason to demonstrate enhanced development..
I hope he does well in spring training and wins the job, however if he is just ok, having him start in the minors won’t be a bad thing
I think Brodie is just playing to the Mets fan base, by making it seem they are all in on this year even if that means Alonso from the start.
It makes zero sense to have him up day 1 if everyone is healthy; Todd Frazier is a quality veteran coming off a bad year, even if it didnt impact Alonso’s future earnings Frazier should be atop the depth chart entering the season anyway.
Definitely complicates things if either Frazier or Lowrie is hurt to start the season.
I think Alonso needs more seasoning. Only half a year in AAA. JD Davis can offer similar power and has a much better glove. I would put him at 1st until May and see how he does.
“Embodies the city of Toronto” – I thought that was George Stroumboulopoulos’ job with his skinny jeans and ten cent haircut? To repeat myself, Marcus, just shutup and play the game.
Strombo stole those pants from Jian Ghomeshi. Heard it from a friend who, heard it from a friend who heard it from another.
… two insufferable lads right there. They wouldn’t last five minutes in Cape Breton. Jian should come on down, we’ll cure his violent habits real quick. Lived in Toronto and, must say, it’s a great city full of fine folks.
… the downvoters should come on down, too. See you soon, sweethearts.
Another hugely entitled Blue Jays fan. Surprise surprise
^Another human attempting to be insightful. You have no problem pointing your judgemental, anal-smelling fingers toward others yet your comments all point toward negativity. Congrats Bull-ista. Well done.
Text message from Jeff to Wagon Wheel:
My dad wants you to quit the crap. Bottom line is we minimize expense. The kid will start the year in the minors. Period.
YES WAGON WHEEL!!!! Give us some Mutt and Jeff action too big guy!!!
Hey Squeaky. It’s good to see confirmation of your obsession with self-inflicted pain is continuing. Your mother was bragging. that this was your best quality and I can see why she was so proud. Now clean off the table, do the dishes and throw out the trash.
It is sounding like a deal is extremely close with Bryce Harper going to the Phillies, a rumored 10/310 per David P. Samson of CBS Sports.
Stromans going to be another Ricky Remero why would the jays pay a guy big bucks when he his numbers keep going down and he keeps getting older on a rebuilding club
His numbers don’t “keep going down.” He’s put up 3-3.5 WAR in 3 of the last 5 years and 2 of the last 3. He had a rough injury plagued season last year. Another entitled Blue Jays fan who will see him contributing those WAR to another team in short order
There’s that word again from bolshitsta. Entitled. I’m sure you told every coach that cut you the same thing.
So did the Phillies offer Harper 10/310 or was that just a rumor?
JD might be able to get a better average over 3 years if he performs close to what he did last year and stays healthy. Health was one of the biggest red flags before, and another healthy year should pay off well.
Machado and Harper both said today that employed superstars won’t factor into their decision to freak out if they don’t get a job immediately. That they plan on freaking out soon anyway and want the Yankees and the Dodgers to fork out tons of money for them just because they are rich, love to spend money and we are young, great and everybody forecast we would get a 13 or 14 year deal approaching $400 M and they’re pissed the owners and GM’s are so stupid they don’t know this!
LOL Only kidding!
They also pointed to the contracts of Cabrera and Pujols as examples of people that suck way more than them and yet are getting more money annually.
LOL Only Kidding again!
This could be a good thing for Stroman. 2019 will be a bigtime prove it year. If he returns to form he could be in for one more nice payday with multiple bidders. If he turns in a lackluster year, a multi-year pact may be hard to realize.