Marcus Stroman Says Report Blue Jays May Extend Contract Is 'News to Me'

Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman responded to a report Friday that the Toronto Blue Jays may re-sign him rather than trade him ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

SNY's Andy Martino reported Thursday that the Blue Jays have told interested teams they may extend Stroman, but he noted it could be a negotiating tactic.

Stroman tweeted the following in reference to the report:

The 28-year-old Stroman, who is in the midst of his best statistical season, is arbitration eligible at the conclusion of the 2019 campaign.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Thursday that Stroman is viewed as the "most likely top starter" to be traded prior to the July 31 deadline.

There isn't a ton of incentive for Toronto to keep Stroman since he is only under team control through next season, and the Jays seem unlikely to contend any time soon. They are fourth in the American League East at 39-65 and are tied for the AL's third-worst record.

After struggling to a 5.54 ERA over 19 starts last season, Stroman has bounced back in a big way in 2019. Although his record is only 6-11, he owns a 2.96 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 99 strikeouts in 124.2 innings.

Stroman was named an All-Star for the first time this season, and based on the way he has pitched, he could potentially be an ace down the stretch for a playoff-contending team.

The Medford, New York, native has been linked to the New York Yankees, who are in desperate need of starting pitching help. None of the Yanks' top five starters have an ERA better than 4.03 this season.

New York's starting pitching woes have been masked by a dominant offensive attack and bullpen, but it is difficult for a team to make a World Series run without at least one top-end starter.

Perhaps the Blue Jays will be reluctant to move him to a division rival like the Yankees, but if they can secure a couple high-end prospects from the Yanks or any other team, it could go a long way toward accelerating a rebuild that is led by third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and second baseman Cavan Biggio.