Earlier in this series, we mentioned how Trevor Bauer should be a priority this offseason, but Marcus Stroman should definitely be on that list as well.
The unrestricted free agent opted out early after the start of the 2020 season, but the fiery pitcher will definitely have a good market this winter. His career 51-47 win-loss record, 3.76 ERA in 146 career games does not show the growth and development that Marcus Stroman has gone through in his career. From playoff runs to bouncing back from an ACL surgery, Marcus Stroman is a resilient, passionate, and powerful dynamic on and off the field.
The Pros
Marcus Stroman has never had a consistent offense to put up runs, in Toronto and in New York. Many of his losses come in shutouts. It’s very difficult to win games as a pitcher with no run support. The Boston Red Sox have plenty of offensive prowess to go around. As we all know by now, pitching has been a plague for a little while now, Stroman would be a huge upgrade. His swag on the field can hype almost anyone from the bench to the fans and ownership.
Stroman is somewhat unusual since he will blend five and sometimes six different pitches into a game with his two and four-seam fastball in the 93 MPH range. Stroman works his other pitches off those two with excellent control – a career 2.6 BB/9. Stroman is not a swing and miss hurler but what stands out is a career 58.6 GB%. Stroman is also excellent defensively and once won a Gold Glove Award.
During the 2019 Trade Deadline, the Red Sox were among the favorite to land Stroman before the Mets swooped in and traded Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson ( the Mets 4th and 6th prospect) out of nowhere. The Yankees and Dodgers were also heavily interested. The Red Sox sent their top scouting advisor to watch Stroman.
The Red Sox will be getting a dynamic pitcher who loves to get the groundball out. He will not blast past the hitter much, but his intensity would be admired in Boston. His competitive spirit would bring a boost from the disastrous 2020 season. He has learned how to craft a game, and with Cristian Vazquez behind the plate, he can finally have a catcher who can frame the outside pitches.
The Cons
While he is currently coming back from an oblique injury that made him opt out of the 2020 season, he will have a competitive market. He and Bauer will have plenty of teams lining up for their services, and that could prove costly for the Sox, especially after resetting the luxury tax cap in July. His $12 million salary could easily double depending on who’s driving up the bidding war, and that’s a game that Chaim Bloom simply won’t play.
To Conclude
In conclusion, if the bidding does not exceed Bloom’s limitations, the Red Sox can be huge players for Marcus Stroman this offseason. While he is one of the many pitchers available this winter, he is definitely one of the best on the market.
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