All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman is staying with the New York Mets at least one more year.
Mets confirmed on Wednesday that Stroman accepted their $18.9 million qualifying offer and is now under contract for the 2021 MLB season.
The team made Stroman the offer on November 1st, despite the fact that he hasn’t played a single game this year. The 29-year-old player was first forced to sit out the start of the 2020 MLB season due to a torn calf muscle before deciding to opt-out of the remainder of the campaign. He cited concerns over the coronavirus pandemic as the main reason for his decision.
While Marcus Stroman could have entered the free agency this offseason and likely get a long-term contract, the fact is that the teams would not be prepared to give him the money he most likely wants. By accepting the Mets’ offer, he secured himself short-term security while also having an opportunity to deliver a bounce-back season in 2021 and get a big contract after that.
The deal works for Mets as well, considering that they will have a quality starter for a reasonable price. Also, the fact that they traded two of their top pitching prospects for Stroman in 2019 now seems more bearable.
Stroman arrived to Mets midway through the 2019 season from Toronto Blue Jays. He played 11 games for the organization, going 4-2 with 3.77 ERA and 60 strikeouts.
