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Portrait of Marcus Stroman

Marcus Stroman PMets

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2019 Projections (Preseason PECOTA - seasonal age 28)
IP ERA WHIP SO W L SV WARP
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Birth Date5-1-1991
Height5' 7"
Weight180 lbs
Age32 years, 11 months, 23 days
BatsR
ThrowsR
0.32015
4.02016
3.12017
1.32018
1.82019
proj
WARP Summary

MLB Statistics

Historical (past-seasons) WARP is now based on DRA..
cFIP and DRA are not available on a by-team basis and display as zeroes(0). See TOT line for season totals of these stats.
Multiple stints are are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA- WARP
2014 TOR MLB 26 20 130.7 11 6 1 125 28 111 7 103 8.6 1.9 0.5 7.6 0% .307 1.17 2.87 3.65 82 2.91 71.4 3.0
2015 TOR MLB 4 4 27.0 4 0 0 20 6 18 2 112 6.7 2.0 0.7 6.0 0% .237 0.96 3.51 1.67 107 4.03 94.2 0.3
2016 TOR MLB 32 32 204.0 9 10 0 209 54 166 21 107 9.2 2.4 0.9 7.3 62% .309 1.29 3.66 4.37 90 3.66 81.0 4.0
2017 TOR MLB 33 33 201.0 13 9 0 201 62 164 21 103 9.0 2.8 0.9 7.3 63% .310 1.31 3.88 3.09 93 4.18 89.0 3.1
2018 TOR MLB 19 19 102.3 4 9 0 115 36 77 9 107 10.1 3.2 0.8 6.8 64% .326 1.48 3.94 5.54 94 4.19 93.5 1.3
2019 NYN 0 11 11 59.7 4 2 0 65 23 60 8 99 9.8 3.5 1.2 9.1 49% .337 1.47 4.10 3.77 87 3.91 79.8 1.2
2019 TOR 0 21 21 124.7 6 11 0 118 35 99 10 102 8.5 2.5 0.7 7.1 56% .293 1.23 3.54 2.96 91 3.74 76.8 2.8
2019 TOT MLB 32 32 184.3 10 13 0 183 58 159 18 101 8.9 2.8 0.9 7.8 54% .307 1.31 3.72 3.22 90 3.79 77.8 4.0
CareerMLB146140849.351471853244695781049.02.60.87.459%.3111.293.633.76903.7782.715.8

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg LG G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA-
2012 VAN A- NOR 7 0 11.3 1 0 0 8 3 15 0 6.4 2.4 0.0 11.9 0% .296 0.97 1.47 3.18 61 1.88 39.1
2012 NHP AA EAS 8 0 8.0 2 0 0 8 6 8 1 9.0 6.8 1.1 9.0 0% .304 1.75 5.07 3.38 104 4.66 97.1
2013 NHP AA EAS 20 20 111.7 9 5 0 99 27 129 13 104 8.0 2.2 1.0 10.4 0% .300 1.13 3.32 3.30 81 3.11 67.6
2014 TOR MLB AL 26 20 130.7 11 6 1 125 28 111 7 103 8.6 1.9 0.5 7.6 0% .307 1.17 2.87 3.65 82 2.91 71.4
2014 BUF AAA INT 7 7 35.7 2 4 0 32 9 45 1 99 8.1 2.3 0.3 11.4 0% .348 1.15 2.11 3.03 62 3.25 68.8
2015 TOR MLB AL 4 4 27.0 4 0 0 20 6 18 2 112 6.7 2.0 0.7 6.0 0% .237 0.96 3.51 1.67 107 4.03 94.2
2015 LNS A MID 1 1 4.7 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 120 0.0 1.9 0.0 13.5 0% .000 0.21 1.03 0.00 71 2.06 45.2
2015 BUF AAA INT 1 1 3.0 0 1 0 8 4 5 0 79 24.0 12.0 0.0 15.0 0% .727 4.00 3.82 12.00 88 8.18 179.4
2016 TOR MLB AL 32 32 204.0 9 10 0 209 54 166 21 107 9.2 2.4 0.9 7.3 62% .309 1.29 3.66 4.37 90 3.66 81.0
2017 TOR MLB AL 33 33 201.0 13 9 0 201 62 164 21 103 9.0 2.8 0.9 7.3 63% .310 1.31 3.88 3.09 93 4.18 89.0
2018 TOR MLB AL 19 19 102.3 4 9 0 115 36 77 9 107 10.1 3.2 0.8 6.8 64% .326 1.48 3.94 5.54 94 4.19 93.5
2018 DUN A+ FSL 1 1 4.3 0 1 0 1 4 3 1 105 2.1 8.3 2.1 6.2 50% .000 1.15 7.86 4.15 128 3.73 78.8
2019 NYN MLB NL 11 11 59.7 4 2 0 65 23 60 8 99 9.8 3.5 1.2 9.1 49% .337 1.47 4.10 3.77 87 3.91 79.8
2019 TOR MLB AL 21 21 124.7 6 11 0 118 35 99 10 102 8.5 2.5 0.7 7.1 56% .293 1.23 3.54 2.96 91 3.74 76.8

Plate Discipline

YEAR Pits Zone% Swing% Contact% Z-Swing% O-Swing% Z-Contact% O-Contact% SwStr%
2014 2077 0.5320 0.4608 0.7931 0.6109 0.2901 0.8756 0.5957 0.2069
2015 370 0.5595 0.4541 0.8155 0.5894 0.2822 0.8852 0.6304 0.1845
2016 3102 0.4710 0.4655 0.7853 0.6290 0.3199 0.9021 0.5810 0.2147
2017 3138 0.4672 0.4442 0.7618 0.6037 0.3044 0.8825 0.5521 0.2382
2018 1707 0.4622 0.4353 0.7739 0.6084 0.2865 0.8708 0.5970 0.2261
2019 3042 0.4375 0.4464 0.7518 0.6168 0.3139 0.8660 0.5773 0.2482
Career134360.47330.45130.77280.61380.30500.88080.57910.2272

Injury History  —  No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2026 NYA $
2025 NYA $18,500,000
2024 NYA $18,500,000
2023 CHN $25,000,000
2022 CHN $25,000,000
2021 NYN $18,900,000
2020 NYN $12,000,000
2019 TOR $7,400,000
2018 TOR $6,500,000
2017 TOR $3,400,000
2016 TOR $515,900
2015 TOR $514,700
2014 TOR $
YearsDescriptionSalary
9 yrPrevious$99,230,600
2019Current$18,500,000
10 yrPvs + Cur$117,730,600
1 yrFuture$18,500,000
11 yrTotal$136,230,600

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status
9 y 26 dRoc Nation2 years/$37M (2024-25), 2026 option

Details
  • 2 years/$37M (2024-25), plus conditional 2026 option. Signed by NY Yankees as a free agent 1/11/24. $1M signing bonus. 24:$18M, 25:$18M, 26:$18M player option if Stroman has 140 innings pitched in 2025.
  • 3 years/$71M (2022). Signed by Chicago Cubs as a free agent 12/1/21. 22:$25M, 23:$25M, 24:$21M. Stroman may opt out of contract after 2023 season. 2024 salary increases by $2M each with 160 innings pitched in 2022 or 2023. Stroman exercised right to opt out of contract 11/4/23.
  • 1 year/$18.9M (2021). Re-signed by NY Mets 11/11/20 (accepted qualifying offer).
  • 1 year/$12M (2020). Re-signed by NY Mets 1/10/20 (avoided arbitration). Opted out of 2020 season, placed on restricted list 8/10/20.
  • 1 year/$7.4M (2019). Re-signed by Toronto 1/11/19 (avoided arbitration). Acquired by NY Mets in trade from Toronto 7/28/19 with $2,506,452 remaining on contract. As part of the trade, Blue Jays pay Mets $1.5M.
  • 1 year/$6.5M (2018). Lost arbitration with Toronto 2/15/18 ($6.9M-$6.5M).
  • 1 year/$3.4M (2017). Won arbitration with Toronto 2/14/17 ($3.4M-$3.1M).
  • 1 year/$515,900 (2016). Re-signed by Toronto 3/16.
  • 1 year/$514,700 (2015). Re-signed by Toronto 3/15.
  • 1 year (2014). Contract selected by Toronto 5/4/14.
  • Drafted by Toronto 2012 (1-22) (Duke). $1.8M signing bonus (slot amount).

2019 Preseason Forecast

Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET

PCT W L SV G GS IP H BB SO HR BABIP WHIP ERA DRA VORP WARP
Weighted Mean?????0.0?00?.0000.000.00?0.00.0

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BP Annual Player Comments

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BP Articles

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BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2020-04-22 13:00:00 (link to chat)If there isn't a season this year, which seems increasingly likely to me, has the MLB said yet what happens with free agency and contracts? Or don't we know yet?
(Raymond from Washington DC)
Yes, MLB and the MLBPA agreed to a deal. $170 million gets distributed to the players, and players get the same amount of service time as they did the prior season (so Mookie Betts and Marcus Stroman will become free agents, etc.). I wrote about the service time implications here: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/57956/dissecting-the-service-time-implications-of-the-mlb-mlbpa-agreement/ (Craig Goldstein)
2019-08-21 13:00:00 (link to chat)Because of the bouncy ball, Are high groundball pitchers the new market inefficiency? Say someone unsexy like a Marcus Stroman or Wade Miley
(Matt from Boston)
It's an interesting idea. The weird thing about Miley, for example, is that he's found increased success due to his cutter (which gets a ton of ground balls). But he's taken a step forward in Houston by working his four-seamer higher, which plays off his changeup better. The result has been a higher swinging-strike rate and more strikeouts. I think the key to dealing with the rabbit ball will be missing bats, first and foremost. (JP Breen)
2019-05-31 13:00:00 (link to chat)Do you think that Deivi Garcia will ultimately be a starter or a reliever? There seems to be a prejudice these days against starters who are small of stature. I'm an old fan who remembers lots of good "small" starters like Whitey Ford and Bobby Shantz. I think that would be a good subject for an article.
(cracker73 from Florida)
Starter for me. I'm not sure there's as much of a prejudice against shorter starters these days as there was a decade ago, mostly because starters aren't expected to work as deep into games as they once were. Guys like Marcus Stroman and Sonny Gray have helped dispel those stereotypes, too. (J.P. Breen)
2019-05-01 12:00:00 (link to chat)Does David Peterson and Dom Smith get it done for Marcus Stroman?
(Danny from NY)
Nope (Jeffrey Paternostro)
2018-06-29 13:00:00 (link to chat)What's more likely, Peter Alonso goes Goldschmidt or Jonathan Loaisiga goes Marcus Stroman?
(Lenny from Kelly Park)
I mean, you'd hope Loaisiga would have the one good full Stroman season more than once I guess. And that's probably more likely than the full Goldschmidt. Goldy was always sneaky athletic in a way that Alonso just isn't. (Jeffrey Paternostro)
2017-02-21 13:00:00 (link to chat)Pitching sleepers/breakouts for this year? If possible, geared to points leagues?
(chrispetersen15 from IA)
I'll give you a few deeper late-round mixed options: Garrett Richards, Robert Gsellman, Jharel Cotton and Zach Davies.
As far as "breakouts" go that's a broad term. Starters that I like better than the consensus: Julio Urias, Marcus Stroman, Jon Gray, James Paxton (is so obvious it's painful), and Frankie Liriano. I'm probably forgetting someone...Oh. Draft Rich Hill... (George Bissell)
2017-01-06 13:00:00 (link to chat)Can you rank in terms of trade value: Marcus Stroman, Dylan Bundy, Carlos Martinez, Steve Matz
(Westbrook from Toronto)
Martinez, Stroman, Matz (a small gorge), Bundy. Could see a case for flipping 2/3, depending on how you want to weight health risks. (Jeffrey Paternostro)
2016-09-08 19:00:00 (link to chat)Just curious as of now who is your favorite player and why? Do you suggest always having him on your fantasy baseball team ?
(Wally from FL)
That's an extremely difficult question. It's a tie between Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez among hitters right now. Julio Urias or Marcus Stroman among pitchers. I'll go with someone a bit more obscure for the purposes of this question. The pitcher that I think about on a daily basis is Ben Rowen. He's a submarine pitcher that's now with the Brewers. He's fascinating to me. The other two obscure pitchers I'm obsessed with are Eddie Gamboa, a 31-year-old knuckleballer with the Rays and Robby Scott, a Red Sox lefty who throws from different arm slots to right and left handed batters. It's surreal. (George Bissell)
2016-03-07 13:00:00 (link to chat)Which two should I keep? Miguel Sano, Yasiel Puig, Rougned Odor, Jonathan Lucroy, Adam Wainwright, Marcus Stroman. Incentives in my league are heavily in favor of keeping players who will have the most value this year.
(mattstupp from NYC)
This is tough, but I'd lean on Puig and Stroman as the guys who're most likely to raise the most WARP this year. Now, if we're talking your typical 5x5 fantasy numbers, I'd consider booting Stro and going Sano ... and that's not taking into account positional scarcity. But for me Odor's the only other contender other than those three. Puig for sure in my book. (Bryan Grosnick)
2016-03-07 13:00:00 (link to chat)How good can Marcus Stroman be?
(Terry from Toronto)
Very good. You should probably ask the new BP Toronto (http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com), but I like him as a guy in that tier just below the Cy Young scrum this year. Would love to see him model his work after Dallas Keuchel's 2015, then start amping up the Ks. (Bryan Grosnick)
2016-02-03 20:00:00 (link to chat)Which 2 would you keep? Adam Wainwright, Marcus Stroman, Miguel Sano (has 3B eligibility in Yahoo), or Rougned Odor?
(mattstupp from NYC)
Sano and Odor. Stroman is a Duke guy and therefore my boy, but unless you're talking about elite level SP as the alternative, I'm always keeping the bats. (Greg Wellemeyer)
2016-01-14 20:00:00 (link to chat)Mike can you help w keepers? Pick 5 conforto, grichuk, Cesar Hernandez, parra, Sano, am Ramos, severino, stroman. All last round except Ramos (16). 5x5 roto. Thanks!!!
(Matt from Chicago )
I would go Michael Conforto, Miguel Sano, Marcus Stroman, Luis Severino, and Grichuk. (Mike Gianella)
2015-10-06 19:30:00 (link to chat)Pick one player on a postseason roster to start a franchise with?
(racastle12 from Indy)
Carlos Correa. He's 21, already a superstar, and projects to just get better. I hesitate to start a franchise with a pitcher, but Marcus Stroman is exciting, young, and really good. --KM


Correa. He's already one of the premier players in the league, and he plays at a premium position. --KD

I would like to pick someone other than Correa, just to make this interesting, but there is enough of an age gap with McCutchen and pitchers break.--JP (AL Wild Card Game Chat)
2015-07-23 17:00:00 (link to chat)Hey Mike. I know Dynasty leagues is not necessarily your cup of tea but if you feel your squad has a chance to win it this year, would you deal Marcus Stroman, Blake Snell & Nomar Mazara for Cole Hamels?
(JJ from NY)
I think that's too much for Hamels. (Mike Gianella)
2015-07-23 17:00:00 (link to chat)Hey Mike. 16 team 5X5 Dynasty league. Currently in 3rd and trying to get back to the championship. Would you deal Stroman, Snell, & Mazara for Hamels to improve your chances of possibly getting that allusive flag this year?
(Deal or No Deal from Potnetial Ticket Day Parade)
I think that's too much, but if I say yes to that I know Nick Shlain will come to my house and beat me with his Marcus Stroman fathead. (Mike Gianella)
2015-07-23 17:00:00 (link to chat)When does Marcus Stroman become a better pitcher than Johnny Cueto? Next two years? Or will Cueto have to retire first?
(ayzzya from Crown Heights)
4-5 years. (Mike Gianella)
2015-01-20 19:30:00 (link to chat)Do you think Marcus Stroman will become one the elite AL starting pitchers in 2015? All of his peripheral stats (LD%, SO/BB, FIP-ERA, GB%, et al) seem to indicate that he has a solid shot at an ERA in the high 2s or low 3s, with tons of ground balls generated by the new sinker he began to throw in July. Do you see anything holding him back?
(Mike from La La Land)
I really like Stroman but predicting an ERA in the 2s is quite optimistic, and he's certainly not elite yet. Yes, I know his FIP was below 3 last year, but he doesn't have contextual factors on his side and we still don't know if he can throw 180-200 IP. That being said, he has No. 2/3 fantasy starter upside in the long run, and I'd be comfortable with him as my No. 5 fantasy starter for 2015 in a 12-team league. (Ben Carsley)
2014-11-20 13:00:00 (link to chat)True of False: Marcus Stroman will have a better career than Kevin Gausman (was stronger in their first season statistically, without doubt).
(Ryan from Toronto)
Good one to start off with. Gausman has a bit more ceiling as his stuff is even louder, but given the big head start that Stroman has in the command department he's the safer bet. Stroman's stuff is plenty strong and he showed veteran command in his first go-round in the big leagues. As much as I like Gausman's potential, I can't pick against what Stroman already offers. (Todd Gold)
2015-01-21 15:00:00 (link to chat)Thanks for the chat, Doug! I know you graded his overall delivery as one of the best in AL East, but what do you see for Marcus Stroman in 2015? Full-on breakout potential?
(Shawnykid23 from CT)
I really like Stroman this season, and he has the stuff and the delivery to potentially wreak havoc on the American League. The big question is whether he can continue to spot the fastball low in the zone, lest his homer rate skyrockets. My dart throw for his 2015 would be an ERA in the low-3's, with an uptick in both K's (closer to 9 K/9 inn) and walks (~2.5 BB/9). (Doug Thorburn)
2015-01-21 15:00:00 (link to chat)Hi Doug: If there isn't a predictable next Corey Kluber, is there a predictable next Marcus Stroman? That is, a prospect in the minor leagues with size/vertical plane concerns that are overblown and might surprise in the majors in 2015?
(Drifter from Long Branch)
There isn't really a Stroman mirror for 2015, but '14 had Yordano Ventura, which I think is a closer comp than any of the current crop. When in doubt, bet on the raw stuff. (Doug Thorburn)
2015-01-08 12:00:00 (link to chat)Who is your Corey Kluber of 2015??
(Bob from Cleveland)
There are a couple of questions like this that I don't quite know how to answer. The short answer is that I don't know yet. I really like Drew Pomeranz, I think he'll do big things in OAK. I see a lot of what I saw in Sonny Gray a few years ago in Marcus Stroman, so I like him to really blow up in 2015.

Beyond that, I'm not sure. Gausman stands to really improve if he throws his slider more. Look for some thoughts on this in my column over the next two months though. (Jeff Long)
2014-09-10 12:00:00 (link to chat)I'm 26 and the girl I thought I was going to marry broke up with me last night. Tell me something about the Blue Jays to make me feel better.
(Kyle from Canada)
Marcus Stroman is one of the best 25U pitchers in baseball. I think he has proven to just about everyone that he is a legitimate starter. Those guys Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris are pretty good too. (Tucker Blair)
2014-08-19 14:00:00 (link to chat)I was a big fan of Brandon Finnegan before the draft. Do you think he's a rotation guy (like perhaps a left Marcus Stroman)? Ceiling as a #2 but most likely a consistent #3?
(Chris from Oakland)
So was I. I thought 60 FB, 55 SL, 55 CH. #3 starter ceiling, 7th/8th inning reliever floor. Nice player. (CJ Wittmann)
2014-08-08 13:00:00 (link to chat)From one Craig to another; Brandon Finnegan is off to a nice roll in his pro debut and has reached AA already. Rotation piece in the bigs? If he sticks what upside do you see out of him?
(Craig from DC)
AND WE'RE BOTH IN DC. Let's meet and be best friends sometime. I absolutely love Finnegan and have thought of him as a LHP version of Marcus Stroman. I definitely think he's a starter, and I think he can be what we think of Stroman as. (Craig Goldstein)
2014-07-25 14:00:00 (link to chat)Marcus Stroman looked great yesterday; has he exceeded your expectations since moving into the rotation or did you always envision him doing something like this if given the chance? Odds that he has sustained success (ie low 3's ERA) going forward?
(MJ from e-town)
The stuff was never a question, but Stroman's transition to the highest level has been smoother than anticipated. I like his chances to continue being a force in the Blue Jay rotation, but every eye in Toronto will be looking for fatigue down the stretch. Here's hoping that he stays strong. (Doug Thorburn)
2014-07-08 13:00:00 (link to chat)Can Marcus Stroman sustain this level of performance as a starter? The kid looks like he has been in the bigs for years.
(johnd311 from Tucson)
He's proving me wrong with every start. I was a staunch believer in his future as a reliever. I still want to see how the league handles him a second and third time around, but he's doing things I didn't think he could do the first time through. (Mark Anderson)
2014-07-15 13:00:00 (link to chat)Jake Odorizzi- is he primed for a big 2nd half? Would you rather have him over guys like Yordano Ventura, Marcus Stroman, Kevin Gausman, etc?
(Shawnykid23 from CT)
Not necessarily. He's already been on fire since May (3.14 ERA with 94 Ks in 77.3 IP). I think he will continue to be pretty solid (mid-to-high 3.00s) with an upside of just continuing what he's done the past two months (low-3.00s, major Ks) (Paul Sporer)
2014-06-03 14:00:00 (link to chat)Do you think Marcus Stroman's last start is representative of what we will see from him for the rest of this year? Obviously he may not always be that good, but he definitely has swing and miss out pitches (ohhh that slider), and if he can keep that 95 mph heater on the outside edge to get ahead in counts it seems like he could be dangerous
(johnd311 from Tucson)
Yes. Like you said, he may not always be that good, one reason is because he isn't going to face the Royals every time. But he's got enough in the arsenal & elsewhere to get away with his physical limitations. (Ron Shah)
2014-05-15 20:00:00 (link to chat)In our h2h points league where we keep 5 players in the round drafted and can keep them as long as forever, I have stashed Bradley in round 16. His injury is making me wonder if it would be advisable to change horses. Other options that could be kept in round 20 would be Noah Syndergaard, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant, Byron Buxton, or Marcus Stroman. Benches are short so keeping any prospect is a luxury especially since my team is always a strong title contender. Is anyone of the above arguably a better stash than Bradley as far as impact both this year and beyond?
(Eric Nosebar from Albuquerque )
Give me Syndergaard, Russell, Bryant or Buxton in Round 20 over Bradley in Round 16. Buxton's the biggest upside, but he likely won't contribute right away in 2015. (Bret Sayre)
2014-05-15 20:00:00 (link to chat)If Marcus Stroman gets the call, what kind of season do you see him having?
(Kevin from Toronto)
I assume you mean into the rotation, as he's already in the majors. I'd expect lots of ups and downs, with an ERA above 4.00 and strikeout rate around 7 per nine. It's tough being a rookie pitcher, even if you're a very good prospect. (Bret Sayre)
2014-05-15 20:00:00 (link to chat)Your thoughts on a couple of prospects struggling after promotions - Marcus Stroman and Matt Wisler? Any reasons to be concerned in dynasty or just typical developmental hiccups?
(JoJo from SD)
No reason to be concerned on either. They're not finished products. (Bret Sayre)
2014-05-07 17:00:00 (link to chat)If you could only have one for the remainder of the season, who'd you take: Taijuan Walker or Marcus Stroman?
(Jacob from Milwaukee)
I'm taking the healthy guy in Stroman. Walker could be better, but I don't like the risk profile here. (Mike Gianella)
2014-05-07 17:00:00 (link to chat)12 man mixed league. Is Marcus Stroman worth grabbing now and stashing until he breaks into the rotation?
(Rob from Baltimore)
Probably not, but if you have enough reserve slots anyone is worth stashing. (Mike Gianella)
2014-05-07 17:00:00 (link to chat)who wins this trade 2 years of control of Encarnacion and Anabal at resonable auction prices for 4 years of cheap control of Walker and Stroman?
(Jon from Tx)
I like the two years of Edwin Encarnacion and Anibal Sanchez better than Taijuan Walker and Marcus Stroman. It often takes young pitchers 300-400 innings to get to their talent level. You might be buying 2 years of subpar performance. (Mike Gianella)
2014-05-05 13:00:00 (link to chat)What should we expect out of Marcus Stroman in his first look at the majors?
(Rob from Baltimore)
Pure, unadulterated filth. I expect Stroman to have success his first time through the league, especially if he's working in short stints. We saw in the Arizona Fall League what he can do in one and two inning bursts when hitters don't get a second look at him. That's not to say he can't start - I've been in the Stroman-for-starter camp since the beginning. But he could be filthy as a reliever.

Then again, in Toronto, he's one elevated fastball away from a big blowup game. Aren't prospects the best? (Jeff Moore)
2014-04-29 13:00:00 (link to chat)Which SP will have a greater impact in the majors this season, Trevor Bauer or Marcus Stroman?
(bmccabe from New York)
Toughie. Bauer looked pretty good in his start. Better than I'd seen him in the majors. Flip a coin. (R.J. Anderson)
2014-04-21 13:00:00 (link to chat)Jeff, Thanks for the chat. Two questions. First, who's getting called up next? Second, who are we not talking about that we should be?
(Number27 from Milwaukee, WI)
I was as surprised as anybody that George Springer got called up when he did, though I'd guess it means that they're closer to a contract extension than either side is letting on. I just don't see the Astros giving up the service time like that for the sake of about one win between now and June in what will be another losing season. I'm thrilled he's up, but it doesn't make much sense.

Because of that, I have no idea who's next. Some of the most obvious candidates – Javy Baez, Byron Buxton, Taijuan Walker, and Addison Russell for example, have battled injuries. There are some more obvious candidates like Marcus Stroman, Andrew Heaney, Gregory Polanco and others, but I'll bet most teams wait until the super-two deadline has safely passed.

Then again, who saw a Luis Sardinas promotion happening over the weekend? So who knows. (Jeff Moore)
2014-03-14 09:00:00 (link to chat)Drew Hutchison has the inside track for the rotation in Toronto , Is he Meh or is there any upside left ? Cheers Mike.
(boatman44 from Liverpool)
He's meh for me, and with Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman beating down the door, he's more of a capable AL-only fill in than a guy I'd gamble on in a deeper mixed. (Mike Gianella)
2014-02-26 19:00:00 (link to chat)Do you think Marcus Stroman ends up in the rotation?
(Mark from Omaha)
I do, I typically do have the shorty bias but everything I've read on him has me believing (Mauricio Rubio)
2014-02-28 14:00:00 (link to chat)You gave both Eddie Butler and Marcus Stroman a B- for their mechanics. Stroman had a better baseline (No grades <50 or >65) while Butler had higher peaks (70 torque 60 momentum) and lower valleys (35 balance, 45 posture), with a comparable release distance (55). My question in 2 parts: 1) While Stroman's height is usually the focal point of the SP/RP discussion; everything but his height says SP. Could it be argued that Butler is the more likely a late inning option?; and 2) What adjustments do you think these two could make to improve to achieve [better] success for a rotation future?
(AJ from Phoenix)
Awesome question, AJ.

1) Pitchers who lack balance in the delivery are at high risk for over-exposure in the rotation, and based on current mechanics I would say that Stroman is a better bet for the rotation than Butler. So it could definitely be argued that Butler is the better late inning option, with the caveat that I think Stroman is the more likely bullpen guy.

2) Stroman mostly needs to improve consistency of timing by repeating his pace to the plate while maintaining plus momentum. Balance (and often posture) typically round out later in a pitcher's development path, as the player gains functional strength and finds his peak physical form. These elements bode well for Butler, but he has multiple elements of balance that require improvement (vertical and lateral). So it could take time before he is ready to be successful at the highest level.

On the jukebox: Van Halen, "Mine All Mine" (Doug Thorburn)
2014-02-28 14:00:00 (link to chat)Very deep 20-team dynasty league: I need MLB-ready pitching. I was offered Felix Hernandez and two bench bats (Likely Ackley and R Weeks) for Archie Bradley, Matt Harvey, and Marcus Stroman. I know you're not Sayre, Sporer, etc. But from the pitching expert side, do Harvey's TJ recovery, Bradley's control, and Stroman's size give you reason to part for the King?
(Jonah from Redwood)
It really depends on your team makeup and whether you have a good shot at 2014 contention or built for the long haul. I am optimistic about Harvey's return from injury, and he can be the King's equal if he comes all the way back. Interestingly, though, they are only about 3 yrs apart in age (Felix is just 27). Bradley and Stroman add considerable upside to the deal, and I would probably hold on to the young arms in a dynasty league - esp one with 20 teams, given that you need to have some extremes in order to prevail. But if you have a very strong team for 2014 that could age its way out of contention, then you may have to pull the trigger. (Doug Thorburn)
2014-02-18 14:00:00 (link to chat)Best young pitcher stash - Stroman, Gray, or Duffy with hopes of getting 2014 production?
(Jackson from OH)
Marcus Stroman for 2014. Start the campaign. (Ronit Shah)
2014-02-10 13:00:00 (link to chat)Keeper league draft where I need OF/P since I already have 2 MiLB top 10 infielders. Guys available in the range I'll draft: Marcus Stroman, Andrew Heaney, Alex Meyer, Clint Frazier, Joc Pedersen. Anyone jump out at you?
(RWarriors13 from Illinois)
My man-crush on Marcus Stroman has been pretty well documented. I'm driving the Stroman-as-a-Starter bus. (Jeff Moore)
2014-01-23 12:00:00 (link to chat)True or false: If Marcus Stroman was 6'3-6'4 instead of 5'9 (listed), he's be in contention for top arm in the minors (instead of currently being in 2nd or 3rd tier).
(AJ from Phoenix)
I think he's in contention for top arms anyway, but his projection is altered by his height for sure. It's not that Stroman can't start in the majors, it's that so few players of his size (i.e. short) have done it successfully for long. Making 30+ starts a year is tough on the body and being bigger and stronger helps. Think of an NFL lineman. It's not that a 5'9 guy couldn't be a lineman. If he was strong enough and smart enough he could do it physically, but his chances of breaking down would be much greater. That's the issue with Stroman. And has been noted before, one of the biggest precursors for injury is injury, so there's no need to push Stroman past his breaking point. That said, I think the Jays will try and start him, so we shall see. (Matthew Kory)
2014-01-17 10:00:00 (link to chat)Lightning round question: Marcus Stroman or Jonathan Gray?
(summerdays from Boston)
Gray (Jason Parks)
2014-01-14 13:00:00 (link to chat)What can we expect out of the Blue Jays rotation in 2014? It can't possibly be as bad as last season, can it? There can'd be much room for improvement left in the aged veterans Dickey and Buehrle, so where will it most likely come from?
(Paul from DC)
Marcus Stroman! I'm chugging the Kool-Aid. Wouldn't be surprised if we saw Drabek do something of note, too. (Paul Sporer)
2014-01-06 13:00:00 (link to chat)Most under and overrated top 50 prospects?
(JJ from MPLS)
Overrated: Kyle Crick. Million dollar arm, ten-cent control. Of course, when he starts throwing strikes I'm going to look like a fool. I actually hope that happens. I want all prospects to reach their ceilings. Even Mets prospects.

Underrated: As I said before, I love Marcus Stroman. I think he sticks as a starter and dominates. I also love small starters and pitchers who rock single-digit numbers. #want (Jeff Moore)
2014-01-10 13:00:00 (link to chat)Please rank the following diminuitive right-handers: Sonny Gray, Carlos Martinez, Marcus Stroman, Peter Dinklage, Yordano Ventura,
(Mr. C from Milwaukee)
Ventura, Martinez, Gray, Stroman, with Dinklage last just because he's from Jersey and is probably friends with Mort. (I kid, I kid) (Mark Anderson)
2013-12-20 14:00:00 (link to chat)Question about short starters. Marcus Stroman, Carlos Martinez, and Yordano Ventura are all vertically challenged... not that that's a bad thing. Bur with height comes the ability to create plane with your pitches, These guys will have to work low in the zone to achieve that. Are you a believer in them as starters, or do you feel they are destined for the bullpen? Also, it could be a lazy comp, but aforementioned short guys who throw *really* hard deserve at least a cursory Kimbrel comp, no?
(Ken Rosenthal from Down Here!)
In general, I think that shorter pitchers too often get pigeon-holed into relief roles, and I further thing that downhill plane is largely over-rated.

Plane matters, but it is far more important to impact the angle of the pitch at the point of contact - on other words, stuff! The impact of initial trajectory is minimal - in fact, if you raise a pitcher's release point by a full foot of height, you only increase the angle of declination by ONE degree. In a vacuum, this results in 0.5% more groundballs. I would much rather that a pitcher has an effective sinker than a tall release point. Great point on the low-in-the-zone, Ken, but this is true of all pitchers - it is much easier to coax grounders with a pitch at the knees than one at the letters, regardless of plane.

I think that the bigger issue for shorter pitchers is one of release-point extension, with shorter arms and legs that limit release distance. Almost all of the successful starters who were of shorter stature also had excellent momentum to help overcome for the height deficiencies - including Lincecum, Oswalt, and Stroman!

On the jukebox: Iron Maiden, "Two Minutes to Midnight" (Doug Thorburn)
2013-11-25 13:00:00 (link to chat)After watching Noah Syndergaard blossom into one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, could the Blue Jays actually be stupid enough to consider sending Aaron Sanchez or Marcus Stroman to Chicago for two years of Jeff Sarmfhugjhkhjiza?
(Kyle from Ottawa, ON)
I hope that doesn't happen. It seems a bit reckless to me. For what its worth, I would take Stroman over Sanchez. (Jason Parks)
2013-11-25 13:00:00 (link to chat)How many industrial sized bottles of lotion will you need when you do the Cubs' system rankings if they trade Samardzija for a package of, say, Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman and DJ Davis? Would a deal like that move their system ahead of the Twins? What do you think about Sanchez and Stroman?
(TulaneCubs from Chicago)
That's not a realistic package for David Price, much less for Shark. (Jason Parks)
2013-11-26 13:00:00 (link to chat)At jury duty wondering if I should pull a Cusack (#RunawayJury). Which prospects have you seen whose mechanics were exceptional given their age/stuff/advancement?
(AJ from Phoenix)
I can't say "exceptional" but I can say what I like (I'm an analyst, not a scout) and there are plenty of guys I simply haven't seen yet. That said, Julio Urias pops to mind, no one that young should be in the MWL let alone pitch as well as he did. Taijuan Walker has that amazingly easy power. So does Aaron Sanchez, nice and balanced. Marcus Stroman has amazing arm speed and athleticism in his delivery. (Harry Pavlidis)
2013-11-26 13:00:00 (link to chat)Please rank the expected (by you) future value of the four vertically-challenged pitchers: Carlos Martinez, Yordano Ventura, Marcus Stroman. Which of them, if any, will spend less than 2 years in MLB as a starter?
(Mario66 from Pittsburgh)
Same order you've got, despite my love of Stroman he has to prove he can start before I move him up. Stroman is the most likely to go quickly (back) to the pen since he's so small. I think Martinez and that sinker will do some damage at the middle of the St. Louis rotation. Ventura is exciting but still raw. (Harry Pavlidis)
2013-11-19 13:00:00 (link to chat)Do you think Marcus Stroman sticks as a starter or does he project more in relief? He looked so nasty in the AFL, easy to get excited about him in the rotation.
(John from Philly)
I'd love to project him as a starter, but the odds are he's still a reliever. But it's definitely easy to get excited about the stuff and I think he's a fantasy contributor in either role. (Bret Sayre)
2013-11-14 13:00:00 (link to chat)Are there any players who you had seen multiple times and felt you had a great read on either good or bad, then completely surprised you by going in the opposite direction?
(petelunchbox from Handsome City)
This happens all the time. It is an unfortunate side effect of the business we are in. I was locked down, convinced Rick Porcello was a future #2 starter. I saw Marcus Stroman repeatedly in college and was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that he wouldn't last as a starter in the minor leagues. Like I said...it happens a lot, and I'm not ashamed to admit when it does. (Mark Anderson)
2013-11-22 14:00:00 (link to chat)Doug - All year we have heard negative reports on the mechanics of Aaron Sanchez? Yet the results have been pretty good, culminating in a great run in the AFL. What have you heard on his form? Also, is there anything besides height that has you thinking that Marcus Stroman should be in the pen? Thank you.
(R.A.Wagman from Toronto)
Sanchez has reportedly straightened his posture and shortened his stride, and though I had not seen much of him prior to the AFL, footage from the Fall Stars game confirms the posture and stride. The improved posture is great (so is his balance), and the slow pace allows him to repeat the delivery, but I really don't like the muted stride. He can survive on the minors on raw stuff, but advanced batters will likely punish him with a shortened release distance. Once again, the Tyson Ross paradigm rears its ugly head - never thought I would use that name so many times in the same chat!

On the jukebox: Beatles, "A Hard Day's Night" (Doug Thorburn)
2013-11-22 14:00:00 (link to chat)My question is about Marcus Stroman.I've always been a huge fan of his mechanics despite the drop and drive. I feel he has good tricks to make up for lack of size. However, the lack of plane and life on his FB makes me think the closer role is more realistic than starter. I'm not feeling great about adding a cutter either and feel the Jays should have tried a split, 2 seam or sinker instead. What are your thoughts?
(Chris Sherwin from Windsor, Ontario)
Excellent question, and I dig the detail! His balance is actually much-improved, and there was little-to-no semblance of the drop-n-drive during his recent stint in the AFL. I agree that a drop in center-of-gravity is a big problem for a 5'9" pitcher for exactly that reason (plane), especially for a guy with strong posture and a low-ish angle of shoulder abduction, so it is huge that he has stabilized his balance. I do like the momentum and stride that helps to make-up for some of the lack of size. My thoughts on the secondaries - I favor adding a split for basically every pitcher. It's an awesome pitch that is easy to teach and relatively easy to master. The sinker/2-seam can be tougher, but these days it is becoming almost a requisite for success. The development of the secondaries will ultimately determine his fitness for the rotation, though the bias against size combined with his short-burst velocity may have predetermined his path of least resistance.

On the jukebox: Guns n' Roses, "Night Train" (Doug Thorburn)
2013-10-15 13:00:00 (link to chat)Marcus Stroman - starter or reliever? What is his upside in either role? Given that he seems likely to be homer-prone, especially as a starter, is it reasonable that he's more valuable to a team that plays in a less homer-friendly park than Rogers Centre?
(Bret from Toronto)
I think he can start. He's short as shit; I'd guess he's closer to 5'7'' than 5'9''. But the stuff is there to start. (Jason Parks)
2013-09-06 14:00:00 (link to chat)There seem to be a lot of very good "smaller" minor league pitchers close to or already in the MLB (Carlos Martinez, Yordano Ventura, Marcus Stroman, etc.) Why does everyone assume bullpen for these type of guys. I understand they aren't "built" like a prototype pitcher, but even if they can't log 200 innings, say they can log 170 (which is about 29, 6 inning starts), isn't that more valuable than being in the bullpen?
(Shawnykid23 from CT)
Great question, ShawnyKid.

There is a modicum of truth to the bias against short pitchers, but for the most part it is completely overblown. The assumption that these guys can't hold up is based on very weak anecdotal evidence, and as you astutely mention, even if the theory was true then there should be a way to get more innings out of shorter pitchers.

Teams have become way too adherent to the system of 6-inning guys and 1-inning guys, in my opinion, as well as having set roles throughout the season. Similar to the earlier question about conditioning, I very much prefer a dynamic approach to workloads, because reality is not so convenient as to divvy these pitchers up into so few categories. There are 20-pitch guys, 50-pitch guys, 70-pitch guys, 110-pitch guys, and so on. It is all about knowing your staff and working within each player's own limitations.

On the jukebox: Sublime, "Santeria" (Doug Thorburn)
2013-07-29 11:00:00 (link to chat)Your thoughts on Marcus Strohman? If he's (just about) universally regarded as a reliever long term, then why does Toronto keep trotting him out there every fifth day as a starter? And more importantly, why is he continuing to succeed as a starter in AA despite having relatively limited professional experience?
(fran from NYC)
Marcus Stroman is a very good pitcher with extremely high end stuff. That is why he continues to dominate Double-A. The Blue Jays keep him in a starters role, even if they think he is ultimately a reliever because they are able to have him efficiently work on developing his secondary pitches. (Zach Mortimer)
2013-06-11 14:00:00 (link to chat)Think we see a call up for Marcus Stroman this year (September)?
(AJ from Phoenix)
Given the way their season is going, I think the Blue Jays would rather see if Stroman can stick in the rotation than rush him to the majors as a reliever. But yes, I do think he'll get a September cup of coffee. (Daniel Rathman)
2013-05-16 13:00:00 (link to chat)Marcus Stroman's ceiling as a starter? Reliever?
(Kris from PEI)
I don't see him as a starter. I think he can be closer, and a good one. (Jason Parks)
2013-04-30 12:00:00 (link to chat)Marcus Stroman has been touted as possibly the first Jays prospect to debut in the MLB, but does his upside touch either of Sanchez or Osuna?
(Wes from Toronto)
Stroman might reach the majors first because of his college pedigree and expected role-which is to say he may wind up in the bullpen. The other two need more polish before being able to take on big-league hitters. If he does move to the bullpen then I'd say he has the lowest upside of the three. Nothing against a quality reliever, I'm just going to take a number-three starter over a set-up guy most of the time. (R.J. Anderson)
2013-04-16 20:00:00 (link to chat)Can you rank these guys please. Thanks! Marcus Stroman, Didi Gregorius, Jorge Alfaro, Austin Hedges, Daniel Norris, Lance McCullers, Bryce Brentz, Daniel Corcino, Clayton Blackburn, Delino DeShields.
(Brandon from Pittsburgh)
DeShields, Blackburn, McCullers, Alfaro, Brentz, Stroman, Hedges, Norris, Corcino, Gregorius. (Bret Sayre)
2013-04-04 11:00:00 (link to chat)Do you think Marcus Stroman sticks as a starter or ends up in relief?
(BenJull from Canada)
I think he ends up in relief. (Jason Parks)
2013-03-28 13:00:00 (link to chat)Marcus Stroman. You see him long-term as a SP or RP. While IP is one of the most undervalues stats, it's hard to value someone who has a [reported] Kimbrelesque upside as a closer, no?
(AJ from Phoenix)
Reliever for me -- I don't see him as the next Kimbrel (though I applaud the cross-race comp). Kimbrel's stuff is just louder. (Nick Faleris)
2012-06-05 16:00:00 (link to chat)I've heard from a lot of prospect people that Marcus Stroman could possibly make it to the majors this year as a reliever. How long would Stroman's path be if Toronto tried to keep him in the starting rotation, and do you think there is any chance he could stick as a back of the rotation starter?
(Richis from Ottawa)
He's got front-end stuff, but it's pretty much impossible to see it working out. Five-foot-nine (or eight) guys don't throw 200 innings in the big leagues. Just pop him in the bullpen, where he's been crazy dominant and ride it. (Kevin Goldstein)
2012-04-04 13:00:00 (link to chat)How would you rank these 3 in ceiling: Kyle Zimmer, Michael Wacha and Marcus Stroman? Thx
(Steven from Madison)
I really like Zimmer, but I haven't seen enough to rank the players with any accuracy. It depends on how you value rotation horses vs potential late-inning arms. Did you prefer the electricity of a late-inning arm or the safety of a solid-average number 3 that chews innings? I tend to lean towards electricity. (Jason Parks)


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PITCHf/x Pitcher Profile

A Collaboration between BrooksBaseball.net and Baseball Prospectus - Pitch classifications provided by Pitch Info LLC


Marcus Stroman has thrown 22,089 pitches that have been tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2013 and 2024, all of them occuring in Spring Training. In 2024, he has relied primarily on his Sinker (91mph) and Slider (85mph), also mixing in a Change (84mph) and Cutter (89mph). He also rarely throws a Fourseam Fastball (91mph) and Curve (77mph).