Marcus Stroman’s name is near the top of rumors in advance of the trade deadline. But now there are reports that the Blue Jays might try to extend him.
As the trade deadline approaches, one of the hottest recurring rumors has been the likelihood of the Toronto Blue Jays trading their ace starter Marcus Stroman.
Now, however, a competing rumor is gaining momentum: Rather than trade Stroman, the Blue Jays may try to extend him.
Andy Martino, who covers New York teams for the SNY Network, surfaced that possibility on Twitter Thursday evening. “Blue Jays have told interested teams that they might not trade Stroman, but extend him,” he wrote. Martino added that it is “unclear if this is a … possibility or a negotiating tactic.”
Source: Blue Jays have told interested teams that they might not trade Stroman, but extend him. Unclear if this is a res possibility or a negotiating tactic
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) July 25, 2019
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The Yankees, of course, are one of the teams rumored to be interested in Stroman, whose name is at the forefront of speculation in advance of next week’s deadline. MLB.com quoted ESPN’s Jeff Passan Thursday as saying MLB executives had told him they believe Stroman will be traded.
On Wednesday, Stroman, 28, allowed five hits and one run in seven innings of what could be his last Rogers Centre start, a 4-0 loss to Cleveland. But he did not betray any sense that there was progress on the negotiating front.
“There’s no willingness from the front office to sign me, so I’ve just come to terms with it and I’m ready to dominate wherever that may be,” he said.
He is 6-11 but with a 2.96 ERA in 21 starts for the Jays this season. Since debuting with Toronto in 2014, he has a 47-45 career record and 3.76 ERA.
He is earning $7.4 million this season and is arbitration-eligible for 2020. Stroman can become a free agent following the 2020 season. But because he remains under team control for 2020 — albeit likely at a steep arbitration price — the Jays are under a bit less pressure to make a deal.
There have also been reports that the Blue Jays have set a very high price tag for Stroman, and that could be reducing interest from the broader market.