Marcus Stroman continues to be an MLB free agent, as he has yet to land a deal whether back with the New York Mets or with another team. But free agency isn't the only one he's busy navigating these days.
Stroman has apparently found himself in a mini-controversy when MLB writer Marc Carig of The Athletic pointed out on Twitter that the righty liked a tweet that has a racist connotation to it.
I get that not every player is going to like the press. It happens. But Marcus Stroman liking a Tweet in which a writer is called a racist slur is unacceptable. There’s absolutely no excuse for it. It’s ugly. It’s wrong. pic.twitter.com/NjvyJ3QFFd
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) November 29, 2021
It did not take long before Stroman responded to Carig, denying that he ever liked such a tweet while also bringing up disturbing experiences with racist trolls on Twitter in an apparent attempt to show his social awareness of racism.
I would never downgrade another race. I understand racism and what it feels like to be on the receiving end of it daily… pic.twitter.com/dlK4M1J7gr
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) November 29, 2021
Carig isn't one to back down, though. He appeared to stand by his earlier statement and took it up a notch by asking Stroman whether he's going to make Photoshop as an alibi — to which the pitcher responded to, of course.
Not at all. Was actually re-writing the tweet. Like I said…there’s many other photoshopped pics of my “likes.” Just like the one Laura Albanese quoted on that claimed I liked a different one. This is common on Twitter. I have nothing but love and respect for all races!
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) November 29, 2021
Whatever the truth is, this isn't an especially good time for Stroman to be dealing with such a shabby item involving himself, considering that he's still out there looking the best contract he can land in free agency.
Last season, Stroman recorded a 10-13 record to go with a 3.02 ERA and a 133 ERA+ across 33 starts for the Mets.