MLB Rumors: Marcus Stroman trade, Astros-Angels secret meeting, Mets plan
By Mark Powell
MLB Rumors: Latest on Cubs-Marcus Stroman trade talks
Marcus Stroman has long remained open to a contract extension with the Chicago Cubs, but he doesn’t believe it will happen prior to the MLB Trade Deadline.
“I’m open to (an extension), I just don’t think it’s going to happen,” Stroman said, per the Sun-Times. “There’s zero hard feelings. I have a great relationship with (president of baseball operations) Jed (Hoyer) and (general manager) Carter (Hawkins), the Rickettses. I love everything here. I just don’t think they’re in a position to sign me before the deadline.”
Stroman has every right to feel a little slighted by the organization given the year he is having and how open he was been about wanting to stay on Chicago’s north side. However, business is business, and the likelihood of a trade elsewhere is growing at the Cubs fall further out of contention.
“(A)t the end of the day, it’s a business so we have to treat it as such, even though we have this love for this fan base and this organization,” Stroman said, per Marquee. “It’s hard to kind of separate it at times. I love being a Cub. I love everything about it …. No matter what happens, I would hope that they would be in the mix in the offseason when it comes to my free agency. Whatever happens, happens. If I have to go somewhere else and pitch for two months and then (come back) you know what I mean? Regardless of what happens, like I said, I’m in a great space mentally so I’m gonna be good regardless.”
As idealistic as Stroman might sound, such things do happen every now and then. When the Yankees traded Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs back in 2016, he won a World Series in Chicago only to re-sign with New York when he was a free agent. A warm working relationship can be maintained despite circulating trade rumors.
A contract extension now would be preferred by Stroman, of course, but the Cubs know they have a rare opportunity to gain assets at the deadline. Jed Hoyer and Co. shouldn’t waste it.
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