Successful Chicago Cubs’ Starter Marcus Stroman Has An Opt-Out Clause In His Contract

Chicago Cubs right-handed starter, Marcus Stroman, is off to an outstanding start to the new season.

Stroman, who turns 32 May 1, has won his first two starts for the Cubs.

The Cubs have increased their anticipated 2023 payroll from last year’s $147 million to $188 million, signaling a will to win in the National League Central division.

Stroman won the team’s March 30 Opening Day start at home in Wrigley Field against the Milwaukee Brewers. Stroman threw six innings, yielding only 3 hits, while walking 3. He struck out 8 in the game. The team won the game 4-0, beating Brewers ace Corbin Burnes.

The Cubs first game last year lasted four hours.

By comparison, this Opening Day game was played in a very crisp 2 hours, 21 minutes. It was the fastest Cubs Opening Day game in more than 35 years.

In his second start, Stroman defeated the Texas Rangers 2-0 April 7. Stroman went six innings once again, allowing only 2 hits, striking out 6 and walking 1 in his second home victory at Wrigley.

About Marcus Stroman:

Marcus Stroman was a 1st round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays out of Duke University in the 2012 MLB draft. Stroman was the No. 22 selection in the draft.

The Blue Jays gave Stroman a $1.8 million signing bonus.

Stroman is not the biggest pitcher in the game. In fact, his 5-7, 180 pound frame is rather unusual in today’s era of big, strong, fireballing pitchers.

While at Duke, Stroman both started games and worked out of the Blue Devils bullpen.

Because of his shorter frame, at the time of the draft, scouts targeted Stroman as a quality reliever, with a solid repertoire, and the capability of seeing action in high leverage relief situations. Scouts were wary of Stroman’s stamina to pitch deeply into games as a starter.

When Stroman made it to the big leagues with Toronto in 2014 at the age of 23, he was used out of the bullpen in six of his 26 appearances. Starting 20 games that year, Stroman finished with 130.2 innings as a rookie. He won 11 games for the Blue Jays, finishing with a record of 11-6, and a fine 3.65 Earned Run Average. He was being called the team’s best, most reliable starter. His future was very bright.

But, the following season, Stroman had to deal with a very traumatic time in his career.

During a bunt play in spring training in 2015, Stroman tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. During his rehabilitation, Stroman returned to Duke and finished his degree in sociology. He was able to make only four starts for the Blue Jays that season.

A regular in the Blue Jays rotation, and an All Star for the team in 2019, at the MLB trade deadline that year, Toronto traded Stroman to the New York Mets. Along with cash, the Blue Jays traded Stroman for pitchers Anthony Kay, a lefty, and right-handed Simeon Wood Richardson.

Stroman became a free agent in October 2020. In November, he signed with the New York Mets.

Stroman chose to opt out of pitching during the shortened 2020 Covid-19 pandemic season.

Stroman returned to the Mets, starting 33 games in 2021. He finished with a 10-13 record in 179 innings on the mound. He had a very fine 3.02 Earned Run Average.

When Stroman once again became a free agent in 2021, he signed a 3-year, $71 million contract to pitch for the Chicago Cubs, where he currently sits at the top of their rotation.

Marcus Stroman is now the first Chicago Cubs player to wear the number 0.

There must be some concern with Cubs brass, because unless his contract is extended under new terms, Stroman can opt-out of his current deal at the end of this season.

According to Fangraphs, Stroman is now earning $25 million this year. Stroman’s contract will pay him only $21 million next season. He may believe he will be worth more to another team. Or, the Cubs may choose to sweeten his deal by adding years and/or dollars to his contract.

To this writer, it just seems unlikely Stroman will return next season for $4 million less than his 2023 salary. Especially if he continues to pitch as he has to start this year.

Stroman pitched for the United States in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. After helping pitch the USA to a shutout, 8-0 victory over Puerto Rico in the WBC Championship Game, he was named the Most Valuable Player in the WBC.

Stroman’s mother is Puerto Rican. This past March, Stroman chose to pitch for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Stroman is quoted as saying, “My flare, my swag, my charisma. I truly feel like that all comes from that Puerto Rican side.”

Stroman’s Arsenal:

In general, Stroman induces lots of soft contact from hitters. This year, in his two starts, his strikeout rate has increased to 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His rate last season was 7.7 strikeouts per nine.

Stroman is primarily a sinking fastball/slider pitcher. He uses that combination as the framework of a repertoire that also includes a four-seam fastball, and a cutter.

Marcus Stroman’s fastball velocity has not varied over time. According to BrooksBaseball, he throws mainly two-seam, sinking fastballs. The velocity on that pitch sits between 92-93 miles per hour. He uses his sinker 38-40% of the time.

Stroman’s most widely counted upon secondary pitch is his slider. Using the pitch 38% of the time, he throws the slider at 85 miles per hour.

Stroman looks for swings and misses on his sweeping slider, especially against right-handed hitters.

So far this season, Stroman has walked 4.5 hitters per nine innings, up from 2.3 walks per nine, which is where he finished last season.

Stroman has not yielded a home run this season in his 12 innings pitched.

Conclusions:

Off to a great beginning in his first two outings, right-handed Chicago Cubs starter Marcus Stroman has won his first two starts this season.

Stroman has one more year on his current Cubs contract, which pays him $25 million this season.

Next year, Stroman’s Cubs contract calls for a salary of $21 million. However, Stroman can opt out of his contract at the end of this season.

The Cubs and Stroman will have a decision to make. Stroman can pitch next year under the terms of his current contract, he can opt out of his contract and hope to sign elsewhere for more money, or the Cubs can choose to extend the money and/or the years of his current deal.

There are months of the current season yet to be played. However, if his current success on the mound continues, the Cubs and Marcus Stroman will likely be in negotiations regarding Stroman’s future with the team.