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MLB Rumors, All-Star Game edition: Shohei Ohtani, Marcus Stroman, Michael Lorenzen trade fits

By Cody Williams

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 11: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts during the first inning of the 93rd MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at T-Mobile Park on July 11, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 11: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts during the first inning of the 93rd MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at T-Mobile Park on July 11, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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MLB Rumors, Marcus Stroman trade fit
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 15: Marcus Stroman of the Chicago Cubs takes the mound prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on June 15, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Getty Images) /

MLB Rumors: Best Marcus Stroman trade fit – Houston Astros

Marcus Stroman actually elected not to pitch in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, but he was selected for the contest for good reason after the season he’s put forth with the Chicago Cubs.

In 19 starts this season, the 32-year-old right-hander has a 2.96 ERA and 1.11 WHIP for his club. Perhaps the most impressive number is that Stroman has registered a Quality Start in 14 of his 19 outings this season, going deep into games with high-end stuff almost every time out.

But the catch with Stroman is that he’s in the second year of a three-year pact with the Cubs that has a player option for the 2024 season, one that all reports indicate he doesn’t plan to exercise. Moreover, reports have also indicated that Chicago and Stroman are unlikely to get an extension done. And with the Cubs five games under .500 and slipping out of the playoff race, they might be best-served trading the ace of their staff in order to recoup assets for the future.

So which teams could go after Stroman? Frankly, there should be no shortage of suitors. But it’s hard not to look at the defending World Series champion Houston Astros as an ideal landing spot for the veteran right-hander.

Houston entered the All-Star break with a good 50-41 record but two games behind the Texas Rangers for the AL West lead. And their starting pitching has been ravaged with injuries this season, losing Luis Garcia for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, not getting a single pitch from Lance McCullers Jr. before he was shut down for the year,  and missing Jose Urquidy for much of the season as well.

Though Urquidy is set to return, the Astros have been piecing together the rotation. Thus, a half-season rental of Stroman would make a ton of sense with the option to potentially re-sign him in the offseason too. But for the title push from the reigning champs, landing an ace to pair with Framber Valdez and Christian Javier could be crucial — especially with teams like the Rangers and Mariners also lurking in the starting pitcher trade market as well.

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