Marcus Stroman is likely to be traded but the Blue Jays have told interested teams that they might just extend him instead of trading him but they are lying for one reason.
Andy Martino reported on Thursday that the Toronto Blue Jays might not even trade Marcus Stroman, who has been a headliner in trade talks since Spring Training. He said Toronto has told teams interested in the ace that they might just extend him instead of trading him.
I look at it as a negotiating tactic. Stroman has publicly said that Toronto has not had any conversations with him about a possible extension, so why would they do it a week before the Trade Deadline?
They wouldn’t.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
“There’s been no willingness from the front office to sign me, so I’ve just kind of come to terms with it and I’m ready to dominate, wherever that may be, absolutely dominate,” Stroman said after potentially his last home start in Toronto.
Look, Marcus Stroman has pitched in big games like the World Baseball Classic Final and in numerous postseason games but has been a mediocre pitcher a majority of his career.
In 4 out of his first 6 seasons in the big leagues, Stroman has compiled an ERA of at least 3.09 and just last season his ERA reached 5.54.
Although Stroman is the only pitcher who has been there for the last six seasons, I don’t think Toronto would want to extend him just because his ERA is back below 3.
The only reason GM Ross Atkins and president Mark Shapiro would be telling teams that they “might” extend Stroman is to get a better package back because those contenders really want to get a starting pitcher.
I am sorry but I don’t see Brian Cashman (Yankees) or Jeff Luhnow (Astros) or especially Alex Anthopolous (Braves) would give Toronto a too prospect just because the Blue Jays are lying about extending him.
Anthopolous was the GM of the Jays for five seasons from 2010-2015 before he left for the coveted Atlanta Braves general manager job in 2017.
So, he knows who Stroman is and what he is worth and the Braves are at the top of the list to try to get him.
The Blue Jays are smart to attempt to improve the package they receive in a Marcus Stroman trade, but it won’t fool any other teams.