With Marcus Stroman in the midst of a Cy Young caliber season, the Cubs could explore trade partners for their ace, including Stroman’s former team.
Through 14 starts, there aren’t many pitchers in the MLB having more success than the Chicago Cubs ace, Marcus Stroman. Stroman ranks first in the National League in ERA (2.42), opposing average (.191), and WHIP (1.04) as well as ranking fourth in the NL in innings pitched (85.2). He also leads the NL pitchers in WAR by almost 1.0 wins. Stroman has been incredible.
So, when Stroman himself reported that the Cubs weren’t currently listening to him and his agent in talks for an extension, many were surprised. This report immediately opened the floodgates for potential trade destinations for the righty.
It would be foolish for the Cubs to lose him for nothing, especially when they’re not competing as highly as they wanted this season.
Cubs rumors: Could Marcus Stroman land with former team?
Nearly every team in the MLB would love to have Stroman’s services. To win a World Series, starting pitching will be the engine for the team to push them through the dog days of the summer. The acquisition of a workhorse like Stroman could be the move that could boost a team toward a division title.
One team that could make a big push for the righty would be his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays. This could make sense for both sides for plenty of reasons.
Toronto provides a place for Stroman where he is comfortable and familiar. The Blue Jays are an incredibly competitive team that any pitcher would want to pitch for, giving them a chance to compete and win at the highest level.
The Blue Jays would love this trade because they are in desperate need of starting pitching to round out their rotation. The trio of Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman and Jose Berrios has proved serviceable, but the end of the rotation remains questionable.
Alek Manoah has been a shell of his former self, potentially a victim of the new pitch clock in the MLB. He was recently sent to the Florida Complex League. Yusei Kikuchi has been okay for the most part, but he hasn’t dazzled in 2023. Kikuchi and Manoah have combined for 5 quality starts in their 26 combined 2023 starts.
Stroman isn’t guaranteed to be dealt before the deadline, but a move to his former team makes the most sense for both sides. If the Cubs can get a decent package in return, they need to pull the trigger.