The Chicago Cubs have made their decision regarding Marcus Stroman's future with this team, at least for now.
Marcus Stroman loves playing at Clark and Addison. And the fans at Wrigley love him, too. Chicago Cubs management and ownership, though, don't seem to exactly know how they feel about Stroman.
Of course, objectively, the franchise loves what he has done this year. Stroman has been in the Cy Young conversation in the National League with a startling 178 ERA+ and a career-best WHIP of 1.078 (disqualifying 2015 when he only started four games). The Cubs may be second-to-last in the NL Central, but Stroman has been a bright spot from day one in 2023.
His extension, though, is a bit complicated. At 32 years old, despite how strongly he's playing now, it's easy to envision committing major money to him for the next few years and his arm slowing down. Plus, the Cubs have committed money to Jameson Taillon, who hasn't returned dividends yet. Two regretful contracts in the starting rotation isn't tenable for any team that wants to win.
Fans won't buy that excuse, though. They want Stroman secured for years to come. The Cubs have more or less made it official: Stroman won't be getting his additional years at Wrigley Field, at least not yet.
Marcus Stroman won't get a contract extension from Cubs, but door isn't shut
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Cubs are not inclined to extend Stroman before the MLB Trade Deadline (subscription required) on August 1. That deadline is important because if the Cubs don't extend Stroman, another logical decision to be made is whether or not they should cash in. They could trade him to a playoff-hopeful team looking for solid starting pitching on a one-year rental.
After all, his trade value may never be higher than it is right now.
Stroman technically has this year and next on his contract left, but he has an opt-out on his deal at the end of this year. Given how well he's performed, he'd be right to opt-out and get a longer deal.
Though Cubs fans shouldn't expect to see Stroman extended before the season ends, that doesn't mean his return to Wrigley in 2024 and beyond is out of view entirely. Stroman has implied that he would negotiate with the team in the offseason even if they don't extend him now.
The Cubs would be simply foolish to not try to get him back, whether by extension now or a new deal in the winter. They seem to have forced themselves to barter with the open market rather than just themselves.
Quite the gamble.