Cubs Rumors: Fire sale looming, Marcus Stroman extension talk and a trade suitor

Cubs Rumors: Marcus Stroman extension is on the table

All options are on the table for Chicago ace Marcus Stroman, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball so far this season. Stroman has a player option in his contract after this season, and assuming he continues to pitch this well, he will exercise it.

Because of that, the Cubs are exhausting all of their options with Stroman. Chicago could either trade the starting pitcher and acquire some prospect capital in return, thus again kicking their rebuild down the road, or sign him to an extension now. The latter option would be preferred by much of the Cubs fanbase, as they are hungry for another winning team at Wrigley Field. As flawed as this group is, they have a number of pieces in place.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today went as far as to say the organization plans to discuss an extension with Stroman prior to the deadline. Stroman has gone on the record, stating he prefers to stay in Chicago.

"“Stroman is virtually begging the Cubs to sit down at the negotiating table, but the Cubs have yet to engage. That will change. The Cubs plan to talk to him before Aug. 1 to see how much money he’s seeking. If they can’t reach an agreement, they’ll have no choice but to trade him knowing that teams will be clamoring for him at the trade deadline,” Nightengale wrote."

That is good news for fans hoping that this time, Hoyer opts to hold on to his ace.