Ex-Jay Stroman accepts Mets' $18.9M qualifying offer
Right-hander Marcus Stroman has accepted the New York Mets' qualifying offer of US$18.9 million.
“Beyond excited to be back in Queens in 2021!” Stroman posted Wednesday on Twitter.
Stroman, 29, had until Wednesday to accept the offer or become a free agent. He didn't pitch for the Mets in 2020 after suffering a torn left calf muscle in July and then opting out in August.
New York acquired Stroman from the Toronto Blue Jays shortly before the trade deadline in July 2019. He went 4-2 with a 3.77 ERA in 11 starts for the Mets after being named an All-Star with the Blue Jays prior to the trade.
Overall, Stroman is 51-47 with a 3.76 ERA in 146 career games (140 starts) for Toronto (2014-19) and New York.
DOUBT SCREE PIN FOR ROCKETS STAR PAIR
An off-season shift brought a new regime to the Houston Rockets, and NBA All-Stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook are reluctant to buy in, ESPN reported on Wednesday.
Head coach Mike D'Antoni stepped down, joining Steve Nash's coaching staff with the Brooklyn Nets, and Daryl Morey ended his run overseeing basketball operations with the franchise to take the same job with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Their replacements, head coach Stephen Silas and GM Rafael Stone, are unproven. ESPN reported Harden and Westbrook took their concerns about the Rockets keeping the window as a contender open to members of the front office.
The report said both players signed off on Silas's hiring. He was a well-respected assistant coach beloved by Dallas Mavericks players during his tenure with the team.
But the Rockets are becoming concerned the players are no longer committed to staying in Houston, ESPN said.
Harden, 31, has been an All-Star each of his eight seasons with the team. He publicly and privately has asked the team to improve his supporting cast each of the past three off-seasons.
Last summer, he was reunited with Westbrook, a teammate in Oklahoma City, when the Rockets unloaded Chris Paul to the Thunder.
Westbrook turns 32 Thursday. He is owed $131.5 million US over the next three years. That doesn't include a player option for a fourth year at $46.7 million.