Could the Cubs be a match for free agent starter Marcus Stroman?
According to WSCR's Matt Spiegel and MLB Network's Jon Heyman, the Cubs are in discussions with the right-hander, who's one of the top starting pitchers on this offseason's free agent market.
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The Cubs' top offseason need is pitching, and Stroman would be an impactful addition to the starting staff. He finished 2021 with a 3.02 ERA in 179 innings for the Mets, leading the majors leagues with 33 starts.
He was an All-Star in 2019, a Gold Glove winner in 2017 and holds a career 3.63 ERA in seven seasons between the Blue Jays and Mets.
Stroman, who turns 31 next May, is one of the most durable pitchers in the game. He's made 30+ starts four times since 2016 — he opted out of the shortened 60-game 2020 season.
MLB
If there is a match between Stroman and the Cubs — or any team — in the imminent future, there's a deadline to get a deal done.
MLB is expected to enter a lockout following the collective bargaining agreement's expiration Wednesday night, which would bring a transactions freeze to baseball.