Dodgers Rumors: Could Marcus Stroman be a Trade Target for LA?
The Dodgers need some help in the pitching department and with the trade deadline quickly approaching, they should be able to get the upgrades the need. However with the expanded playoffs in tact, the market may be pretty slow with fewer teams willing to be sellers. But as always, there will be moves made and the Dodgers have not been shy about making trades at the deadline to improve their chances of winning the World Series.
MLB insider Mark Feinsand made a list of potential pitchers that could be available come the trade deadline and picked some landing spots for them. He included the Dodgers on some interesting names, one of which was Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman.
Stroman is poised to become the jewel of trade season, as he entered the week tied for the NL wins lead (eight) while leading the league with a 2.45 ERA. In the six starts since his disastrous 2 2/3-inning, six-earned-run clunker against the Twins on May 14, Stroman is 6-0 with a 1.51 ERA. The 32-year-old can opt out of the final year and $21 million of his deal this offseason, so the Cubs might choose to move him rather than lose him for nothing, as he is ineligible to receive a qualifying offer after the season.
Per Mark Feinsand, MLB.com
If the Cubs were to make Stroman available, he would easily be the top name on the open market. He is in the midst of a career year and would demand a haul for Chicago.
Stroman currently holds a share of the lead or leads the National League in wins, ERA, starts, complete games, shutouts, WAR for pitchers, WHIP and more. He is having one of those seasons that come along every so often for pitchers and the Cubs may want to take advantage of it.
As Feinsand mentions, Stroman has the ability to opt out of his current deal after this season and if he continues to pitch this well, he most definitely will. Chicago has the risk of letting him walk for nothing so they may choose to get something in return for the veteran pitcher.
Most starts so far this season,
6+ innings and no more than 2 runs allowed:
Marcus Stroman, 13 ???
Gerrit Cole, 10
Chris Bassitt, 10
Kevin Gausman, 9
Clayton Kershaw, 9
Shane McClanahan, 9
Framber Valdez, 9 https://t.co/UTp35IFdj9— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) June 16, 2023
Stroman would fit in well with the Dodgers as he would give them another reliable arm to throw out every few days in the starting rotation. It would give them a strong trio heading the starters with Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias and Stroman. The only risk is whether or not the Dodgers would be willing to pay a premier price for a rental of Stroman. But the team has shown a willingness to pay for a rental if they believed that they would give them a better chance to win in the current year.
If things worked out well, the Dodgers could always retain his services over the offseason. Both Stroman and the organization would get an inside look into one another to see if the pairing was mutually beneficial. He is currently 32 years old and hasn’t had this good of a season since 2019 so he could be looking at a decent deal come the offseason.
Stroman could provide some more veteran experience to some of the Dodgers younger pitching staff as well. It makes a lot of sense for the Dodgers to at least check in with the Cubs and see what the price would be.
Andrew Friedman has a way of getting the best end of trades so maybe he could work his magic once again here. But whatever the Dodgers decide to do, it will directly impact how far the team goes this season. They desperately need some help and need to make some changes sooner rather than later.
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