Marcus Stroman ‘would love’ to sign extension with Cubs: report – NBC Chicago

Stroman ‘would love’ to sign Cubs extension: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman is eligible to opt out of his three-year contract at the end of the season, and while he says he’s ready to go that route, there’s another arrangement. which he would potentially prefer.

In an interview with Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Stroman said he’d rather sign a new contract with the Cubs than test the market.

“I would love to stay here and sign an extension without even going into free agency,” Stroman said.
Stroman is 4-4 with a 2.95 ERA in 11 starts so far this season. In his time with the Cubs, he is 10-11 but has a 3.33 ERA, with 173 strikeouts and 59 walks to his name.

He signed a three-year contract worth $71 million with the Cubs ahead of the 2022 season, and has an opt-out available at the end of that season.

While mid-season contract extensions aren’t usually common, the Cubs reversed recent trends and in fact signed new three-year deals in outfielder Ian Happ and infielder Nico Hoerner this season.

According to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Stroman and the Cubs opened extension talks earlier this season, but there’s no indication whether the two sides will reach a new agreement.

Rosenthal reported in his article that the Cubs are “happy” with Stroman and are open to a long-term deal, but the pitcher said he was confident no matter what ultimately happened.

“I also have a lot of confidence in myself in free agency. I am very attached to letting it unfold. I’m cool anyway,” he said.

The Cubs have Jameson Taillon under contract for three more seasons, but there could be openings in the rotation in future years, which means keeping Stroman could bring some stability to the club.

The only good news on that front for the Cubs is that Justin Steele isn’t eligible for free agency until the end of the 2027 season, which means the team has a long window where they could have a some cost control in his top rotation spots if he opts to bring Stroman back into the fold.

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