MLB Rumors: Cubs talk extension with key rotation piece

The Cubs were reportedly in talks to extend ace Marcus Stroman this past spring, and the two could reach an agreement soon.

Marcus Stroman may be staying with the Chicago Cubs for the long haul.

The ace joined Chicago last year on a three-year, $71 million deal and has the option to opt of the final year. Stroman is still a far stone’s throw away from potentially making that decision, and so far, he and the Cubs appear to be in early agreement about a future extension.

Stroman, who has built off of last year’s success in Chicago and since developed nicely into a steady arm in 2023, was in preliminary negotiations with the club earlier this spring about an extension.

Per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun Times, no finalized deal was reached, yet “the door seems to still be open.”

Chicago just finalized a three-year deal with Ian Happ last month, and at the time, the Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said he didn’t plan on negotiating with anyone else during the season.

Maybe Stroman will be an exception, given how hot he’s started the 2023 campaign.

Cubs were in preliminary talks to extend ace Marcus Stroman

The former Mets star has compiled a tight 2.28 ERA through eight stars in the season, and he began the year with 14 straight scoreless innings.

Stroman spent time on the injured list due to COVID-19 last season, and while he has suffered a few injuries in recent years, he’s turned into a dependable piece at the top of the Cubs’ rotation.

The 32-year-old recently said of his future:

"“I’ve been open with the front office here, been very vocal that I want to be here and I want an extension, that I don’t want to honestly make it to free agency. The organization top down, how they handle the players, how they handle the families, how they operate, I love everything about it. So, I would love to be a Cub for, honestly, the rest of my career, and sign one more deal and be done.”"

Stroman has been playing much better than he was in New York, and the Cubs can only hope he maintains his success season-long.

If Stroman does hit free agency in the far future, one would expect him to do well even in competitive market with the likes of Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Nola. But you heard the man: he wants to be a Cub forever.