Washington Nationals should trade for Marcus Stroman

The Washington Nationals still need another starting pitcher to round out their rotation. If he is available, Marcus Stroman could be a perfect fit.

The Washington Nationals have had a busy offseason thus far, improving several aspects of the roster. The starting rotation has been a focus, with Patrick Corbin and Anibal Sanchez being brought in to replace Tanner Roark and Gio Gonzalez, but the Nats could still use another starting pitcher to round out the quintet.

Of course, Joe Ross could easily slot into the fifth spot in the rotation and the remaining money could be allocated elsewhere. However, the 25-year-old made just three starts in his return from Tommy John Surgery last year. If history is any indication, Ross will be eased back into action and will be assigned an innings limit. Assuming this is the case, the Nats need another starter to eat some innings.

The free agent market is thin, with Dallas Keuchel being the lone exciting option remaining. Someone like Wade Miley would not be a bad addition, but the Nats should aim higher.

Fortunately for the Nats, there are better options available via trade. Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Zack Greinke, Robbie Ray, and Marcus Stroman, among others, have been rumored to be on the trade block, and any of them would be a welcome addition.

Of all the starters rumored to be available, Stroman is the best fit. Coincidentally, he may also be the most likely to be moved.

The Toronto Blue Jays, Stroman’s current team, are approaching relevance again, but their rebuild is not quite done yet. The AL East is arguably the best division in baseball, and the Blue Jays still have quite a bit of work to do before they can contend for a division title. They have also recently acquired Matt Shoemaker and Clayton Richard, making Stroman expendable. Although Stroman has been a reliable starter in Toronto over the last five years, it may be time for them to flip him for prospects.

If the Blue Jays do elect to trade Stroman, the Nats should be aggressive. For starters, Stroman is among the most athletic pitchers in the league. The Nats have made an effort to get more athletic this winter, and the former Gold Glove Award winner fits the bill.

Stroman is also known for taking the mound every fifth day. Prior to dealing with shoulder fatigue and a blister in 2018, Stroman had eclipsed 200 innings in two consecutive seasons.

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Although Stroman is coming off of a disappointing injury-riddled season, there is reason to believe he will return to form in 2019, especially if he joins the Nats.

Last year, Stroman posted a 5.54 ERA, the worst of his career. However, his 3.91 FIP was much closer to his career-norm, implying that he was the victim of some bad luck. Leaving the AL East for the National League could also lead to improvement.

Finally, Stroman would fit in perfectly with the Nats’ personnel. Derek Lilliquist, Washington’s pitching coach, preaches the importance of ground balls and weak contact, and Stroman routinely induces both.

In addition to Lilliquist, Stroman would be surrounded by other slider-reliant pitchers, including Max Scherzer and Corbin. Getting the opportunity to pick the brains of some of the best pitchers in the game could help Stroman improve an already-lethal slider.

Mike Rizzo believes that starting pitching wins championships, and Marcus Stroman could be the perfect guy to round out the Washington Nationals’ championship-caliber rotation. Although it is not a given that Stroman gets traded this winter, do not be surprised to see him in the nation’s capital by Opening Day.