Part 23 in a series analyzing the New York Mets
Brodie Van Wagenen’s second major trade as Mets general manager was dealing a pair of pitching prospects for Toronto’s Marcus Stroman just before last year’s trade deadline.
It was an unexpected move for a team that didn’t seem to have much shot of reaching the postseason, but the Mets went on a run — and held on to Zack Wheeler — to contend for most of the season.
The Mets didn’t give up nearly as much for Stroman as they did for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz the previous winter in the trade with Seattle, but the deal further depleted a farm system in exchange for having a better chance of competing both in 2019 and 2020.
Although Stroman overcame a slow start in Queens to pitch well down the stretch, the Mets fell short of the wild card and Wheeler left for Philadelphia, so they were looking to get a lot out of the right-hander this season before Stroman can hit free agency.
The shutdown of the sport due to COVID-19 has already diminished what Stroman figures to be able to accomplish this year — and could make giving up pitching-prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson even tougher, since the Mets so far have gotten just 11 starts from Stroman.
But if MLB does return, Stroman will be instrumental to the Mets’ chances of getting to the playoffs, especially in the wake of losing Noah Syndergaard during the spring to Tommy John surgery.
Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz are the only healthy starting pitchers the Mets currently have under contract for next year, so Stroman could also be auditioning to stay put next season.
The Mets could also extend Stroman before he hits the open market, but the shortened season, coupled with the unknown financial impact of the coronavirus-related work stoppage — and the fact Stroman would be a free agent for the first time — makes an extension prior to the end of the season less likely.
In a potential shortened season, Stroman would slot in behind deGrom, with Matz and newcomers Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha rounding out the rotation.
Stroman’s performance late last season left the Mets encouraged he would be a good fit going forward. He had a 2.91 ERA over six starts after a rocky first month following the trade and went 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in his final four starts of the season — all Mets wins.
Overall, the Mets went 8-3 in Stroman’s outings.
“There’s no reason to think he wouldn’t continue to pitch well after he adjusted to being there,’’ one NL scout said. “Being back home [near his native Long Island] seemed to work for him and he could really thrive in those surroundings.”
The scout is also confident Stroman would pitch well in an abbreviated season, even if it gives him less starts heading into a walk year.
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“As long as the Mets contend, he’ll get a chance to show again what he can do in the spotlight,’’ the scout said. “From the Mets’ standpoint, they really need to get more out of him to make up for giving up those young guys. It’s just bad luck on their part and there are plenty of other teams that have the same kind of concern.’’
The fact deGrom, Matz and Syndergaard are the Mets’ only starting pitchers under team control beyond this season means they’ll have to invest in the rotation next season, whether by another trade or via free agency.
As of now, the only big-ticket items on the Mets roster next season are deGrom ($36 million), Robinson Cano ($24 million) and Jeurys Familia ($11.6 million), with Jed Lowrie and Yoenis Cespedes among those off the books.