The Blue Jays traded Marcus Stroman to the Mets on Sunday, ending a fruitful tenure in Toronto for the diminutive right-hander. The Jays did have interest in extending Stroman before they decided to part with him, though. General manager Ross Atkins said Monday (via Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet) that he had discussions “multiple times over the last couple of weeks” with Stroman’s agent in regards to a long-term contract. In the end, however, “It felt as though that gap was too big.”
It’s unclear how high Toronto was willing to go to keep Stroman, who remains on track to reach free agency after the 2020 season. The 28-year-old professed a love for Toronto and the country of Canada on several occasions during his Blue Jays career. Back in February, for example, Stroman stated he “embodies the city of Toronto” more than anybody else, adding he hoped to remain a Blue Jay “for a long time.” Stroman claimed at the time the Jays hadn’t offered him an extension, though, and expressed frustration about his lack of long-term security with the franchise.
Five-plus months later, Stroman is now with another organization. And whether New York will broach an extension with Stroman isn’t known, but it stands to reason the team will if it follows through on trading Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler in the near future. Should those two depart, ace Jacob deGrom and the inconsistent Steven Matz would be the Mets’ only current starters under control past 2020. Moreover, the Mets aren’t teeming with pitching prospects who are close to the majors, especially after trading 24-year-old left-hander Anthony Kay as part of the package for Stroman.
Since debuting in 2014, Stroman has made a strong case for a sizable contract by posting a 3.76 ERA/3.61 FIP, a 59.4 percent groundball rate and a 2.52 BB/9 in 789 2/3 innings (135 appearances, 129 starts). However, Strikeouts are one key element somewhat absent from Stroman’s game. He has fanned just over 7.2 batters per nine for his career and a bit under that figure this season. He’s also sporting a sub-10 percent swinging-strike rate in a league where the average mark has climbed all the way to 11.2. Stroman’s lack of high-end bat-missing ability may negatively affect the value of his next deal, though he could still be in line for a lucrative payday sometime before the 2021 season.
sherlock_
Well… it’s too late. He’s on the Mets now… Makes sense they say that after they trade him…
ColossusOfClout
Damage control after the trade return is being rightfully savaged by Jays fans.
ChiSox_Fan
Exactly
dman07
Me thoughts exactly Sherlock
90shair
He threw a tantrum after hearing the news. Search for Rosie D’Amato of the Toronto Star: “A little man who cast a long shadow.”
Begamin
If someone told you that you were traded to New York but and its not the Yankees, I think youd be upset too lol I mean cmon… its the Mets
LongTimeFan1
@Begamin
Stroman’s family are Mets fans and Stroman grew up rooting for both Mets and Yankees.
Steven Chinwood
LongTimeFan1..Don’t bother with a guy who thought Greg Bird would bring back Stroman.
Yankeepatriot
Not according to the interview the ny post did yesterday with stromans dad lmaoooo
Begamin
+Chinwood
I never said anything of the sort.
Begamin
+LongTimeFan
Yeah, yeah.
Im just ragging on the dysfunctional Mets is all
c ya
Exactly, lol, that’s what I call taste shock!
steelerbravenation
Save articles like this for August when the trade rumors slow down
Get to the good stuff
dman07
My*
johns-11
I don’t believe Atkins. Damage control because he got schooled again. They were never serious on extending Marcus. This is to try and appease the fans.
90shair
Nope. It’s to torment Stroman. The FO loathed the little guy.
dalrob
Rosie Dimanno. And Stroman is a huge suck who borders on narcissism. Good luck with him. What was his ERA the previous 2 years? Around 5.50?
firegibby
Awe in 17 he was 8th in cy young vote nice try though
Cat Mando
firegibby…..
“Awe in 17 he was 8th in cy young vote nice try though”
You would be better off citing his ERA (3.09) etc. An 8th place finish in the CYA means he rec’d one 5th place vote and that was from a writer at the Toronto Sun . It’s not compelling argument.
Boogaloo
Mets fans have no idea what a pompous, self absorbed little twit this guy is.
Throwing teammates under the bus, never taking responsibility for failures, being a phony.
It’s gonna be real fun once things go south in NY, lol
PopeMarley
Did you miss therapy today?
firegibby
Yeah a guy who wants the ball and competes lol. He has an attitude but he also has talent.
Steven Chinwood
Quit bugging out boogaloo.
snotrocket
Things are already well past south in NY.
90shair
Stroman is also a pathological liar. Read the Rosie Dimanno piece in the Toronto Star. He sounds like Trump with all the lies and contradictory statements. The lil twit is gone and that’s good for Toronto
66TheNumberOfTheBest
“Stroman stated he “embodies the city of Toronto” more than anybody else.”
Huh? Anybody else? In Toronto? Stroman knows that he doesn’t play hockey, right? Didn’t he read any papers or watch any TV while up there?
I can’t figure out if that statement is more egotistical or inaccurate. It’s a whole lot of both.
Jeff Zanghi
Also the dudes from NY lol… not exactly the embodiment of Toronto, or Canada lol
ElMagoN9ne
I think he takes a huge hometown discount 2020 winter meetings.
5/128 with 2 options for a 6th and 7th year. All depends on how well he does. I think he has a no hitter in him. How great would it be for him to throw a no-no vs Toronto.
Polish Hammer
5/128 is a huge hometown discount? He’s not worth that so I wondered what the retail price is…
jorge78
You are not right…..
TheBoatmen
It is hard to not have a large gap when one side is at 0.
firegibby
Lol they wanted him gone and rushed to get him gone. He would have had another start but they wanted him out.
firegibby
Jay’s got hosed but strange that the Mets want him considering Stro is a ground ball pitcher and mets defense stinks.
Begamin
I mean for the bargain they got any team in any position (win-now, rebuild, somewhere in between, w/e.) should make that deal. At worst they can flip him at next years deadline
Show Me Your Tatis
@Begamin yeah, at a significant loss.
melochejohn
The Jays had interest in him at a price he would not even look at. It’s pretty weak of Atkins to suggest they did. I never even progressed to the point where they made an offer. They were never even close, so it’s really another bad PR attempt by the Jays FO.
bradthebluefish
Well said!
90shair
I read it as brilliant PR to infuriate the lil Stroman. He wanted to get paid but Toronto didn’t want his bad attitude. Why not lie to the contrary? Ass, meet door on the way out.
jimmertee
Atkins is usually chasing his tail or covering it….You notice that he doesn’t say much when he is interviewed? A whole lotta spin.
I give him credit though for telling everyone there were 4 teams down the trade deadline stretch. One of those clubs was the Cardinals and they were kicking hard. I am told they had a similar offer to the Mets.
Makes me wonder if the Met’s offer was the best or the safest for Atkins job.
SecsSeksSecks
Am I the only person that thinks ground ball pitchers are actually going to benefit from the new “juiced” ball? Not that their numbers will literally get better but that they will look better in comparison to other pitchers who strike out a ton of guys but now give up more homers. When a guy like Verlander gives up 27 homers by the All Star game and that is still considered good enough for him to actually be the starting pitcher in the All-Star game it has to say something about the direction this is headed. A ground ball pitcher in Mike Soroka only gave up 4 homers over that same span. Seems like a huge difference that might drastically effect the game over time.
Begamin
You’d think that a pitcher that gives up more contact would suffer more with a juiced ball but the examples you provide would be evidence against that theory
bradthebluefish
It is a great point. The only trouble with groundball pitchers is that you need a good infield. And unfortunately for the Mets, they don’t have that for Stroman.
jolink65
Can’t give up home runs if you keep the ball on the ground. I think the more MLB falls in love with the juiced baseballs the more valuable ground ball pitchers like Stroman will become. Seems like routine fly balls just drift out now, so anyone who can routinely keep the baseball in the park will have plenty of demand.
phenomenalajs
I really don’t think trading anyone else in the Mets’ rotation is a given. I think Wheeler will get a QO. As for giving up their top 2 pitching prospects, I think they believe the ones they just drafted in rounds 2 & 3 are just as good, if not better.
OilCanLloyd
He’s a free agent after the 20 season. He could sign with the Jays when the kids come around. Stranger things have happened.
Show Me Your Tatis
You are right but some commenters on this site will drag you off to the firing squad for saying that.
Polish Hammer
After he found out he was headed to the Mets and subsequent locker room meltdown I believe that ship has sailed.
30 Parks
Stroman’s arrogance and me-first attitude are completely off-putting. The Jays made the correct move ridding their clubhouse of Marcus and his little man ways. Stroman is unoriginal and rehearsed. Good riddance.
yankees2016rebuild
Wtf is wrong with the blue Jays was this a wink wink deal with the agent and not the gm maybe after he gets fired hell give them a discount on players. They asked for the Yankees and twins best prospects but they settled for some average miner league pitchers this just seems wrong. MLB shouldn’t allow an agent to be a GM it’s just wrong. Is he doing trades as a agent or gm either way this trade is way too one sided.
Paul Miller
Well, instead of thinking of conspiracy, maybe the Twins and yanks weren’t interested in giving up their best prospects. They should of ponied up if they really wanted Stro.
king beas
5 years $80 million
Le Grande Orangerie
You knew Stroman and the Jays were talking extension back in February when Stroman held his press conference to fire up the Toronto Internet Chumps. Same situation as Bautista. The club isn’t going to give him the golden deal, far beyond his value, so he hoped the Chumps would exert pressure.
Nats Town
I was puzzled at first, but then saw that they gave up nothing for Stroman. The return that they could get after another dominant year from him would far outweigh what they gave up to get him.
its_happening
Not sure about that. Next year is his walk year. It would have taken a massive season to get more.
90shair
The return that they got is no longer having to deal with his egomaniacal ways, his little man syndrome, and his over inflated self worth. Many in Toronto hated that guy. Toss in a few prospects and it’s a great deal for Toronto—better than what they got for Tulo (nothing) who was released for similar delusions of grandeur and arrogance
Show Me Your Tatis
No they are not getting more for him in a year when he’s two months from FA and can’t be QO’d
c ya
You snooze, you lose!!
jim stem
Those K numbers go up in the national league facing pitchers and weak hitting pinch hitters. Stroman pitching as a #3 in the national league is a lot different than being the #1 in the AL East facing the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays and all those power hitting Dh’s with no pitchers hitting or defensive replacement pinch hitters twice a game. He should be a very good #3 in the NL. This might be one of those deals that isn’t done yet. The Mets now have a year to figure out if they want to resign him or flip him 12 months from now.
BurtBaseball
I’m surprised at a few things
1) if this was the best return the Jays should have re-signed him.
2) how did nobody outbid the Mets! This is a front of rotation big game SP . I’m dumbfounded.