The Chicago Cubs had an extremely encouraging 2023 campaign, and a big reason for that was due to their pitching staff. The starting rotation finally seems to have their next ace of the future in Justin Steele, but they also got a great season from Marcus Stroman, who earned the second All-Star selection of his career thanks to his strong season on the mound (10-9, 3.95 ERA, 119 K, 1.26 WHIP).
Stroman has now put together two strong campaigns for the Cubs, but he may find himself on a new team come the start of the 2024 season. While Stroman had one-year left on his deal with Chicago that would have paid him $21 million, the veteran starter decided to opt out of the final year of his deal, and he will now hit free agency in hopes of securing a bigger deal this offseason.
Via Jon Heyman:
“Breaking: Marcus Stroman opted out of his Cubs contract and will be a free agent. He had $21M and a year to go.”
Could Marcus Stroman's time with the Cubs be over?
While $21 million is nothing to scoff at, Stroman's decision to opt out of his contract makes a lot of sense. He will turn 33 in May, so this is likely the last chance he will have to earn a big contract before he calls it a career. Stroman could have bet on himself to have another big campaign in 2024, but after an All-Star campaign in 2023, there was really no point in doing so.
Given his solid fit with Chicago, the Cubs will likely try to find a way to bring Stroman back, but considering how he will be looking for more than the $21 million he just turned down, that could present a significant barrier in their negotiations. And with teams all across the league needing starting pitching, it's fair to wonder whether Stroman has pitched his last game with the Cubs.
Follow Us
Subscribe