NEWSLETTER
I mentioned in the Bullets this morning that, for reasons I couldn’t quite state with confidence, a reunion with Marcus Stroman felt unlikely after he opted out of his deal yesterday. Maybe it’s the way the second half went, in injuries and production. Maybe it’s the deep free agent market. Maybe it’s the need for more swing-and-miss in the rotation. Maybe it’s the knowledge that the Cubs weren’t interested in talking about an extension in the first place. It’s probably all of those things combined at some level, leading to a gut feel.
Now there’s a report that backs up that gut feeling.
From USA Today: “The Chicago Cubs say they don’t have any intention to bring back starter Marcus Stroman after he declined his $21 million option in 2024.”
I don’t know to whom the Cubs are saying that – they’d never say it publicly – but that’s the report. I think the Cubs are very much going to be in the starting pitcher free agent and trade market, but for that variety of reasons up there, I don’t think Stroman would be their top target.
Of note, The Athletic crew also leaned on a “feeling” that Stroman and the Cubs wouldn’t re-up: “Jed Hoyer’s group already has more room to maneuver now that Marcus Stroman decided to opt out of his contract, which feels more like a logical endpoint for the Cubs and the All-Star pitcher than a chance to start over.”
In sum, I think we can probably leave Marcus Stroman out of the group of expected pursuits for the Cubs this offseason. Because his decision was made only yesterday, that group actually hasn’t had a lot of time to take shape – with Stroman returning, the Cubs would’ve probably been in the market only for a depth starter or a can’t-pass-on-this-deal top-of-the-rotation type. Now, we have to recalibrate all that thinking, with Stroman wholly excluded. Front-end guys are surely on the table, but I would say mid-and-back of the rotation types are also probably now under consideration, if the Cubs find someone they really like and think they can next-level.
As for Stroman, I think there was more good than bad the last two years, and I hope he finds a great deal out there.
