Stroman accepts $18.9M qualifying offer

NEW YORK — Marcus Stroman liked what he saw from Steve Cohen.

The Mets right-handed starter accepted the club’s $ 18.9 million qualifying offer ahead of Wednesday’s deadline. In a tweet Stroman said, “After watching the presser, I’m beyond excited to play for you sir. I could feel the excitement and passion you’re going to bring daily. Let’s go be great! @StevenACohen2”

Stroman, an integral part of the team’s starting five, sets up a simpler offseason for Cohen’s new Mets.

He joins Jacob deGrom, David Peterson, and perhaps Seth Lugo if the Mets decide to keep the relieverturned starter in the rotation. Noah Syndergaard is expected to recover from Tommy John surgery by mid-April.

Cohen held his first press conference on Tuesday. Across 45 minutes, the Mets’ new owner painted a new vision for the team he grew up rooting for ever since he began watching games with his dad at the Polo Grounds. Cohen asserted he is unafraid to use his resources that stem from an estimated $ 14 billion net worth.

Stroman heard him loud and clear.

“Marcus, That is great news,” Cohen tweeted to Stroman. “Looking forward to meeting you soon. I will call you over the next few days to thank you.”

The ground-ball pitcher is now the third-highest salaried player on the Mets in 2021, behind deGrom and Robinson Cano.

The Steve Cohen Effect was not the only factor that brought Stroman back to the Mets. If the free- agent starter declined the team’s offer, he would have competed for a contract in a sunken financial market. Major League Baseball’s decision to play through the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 left the sport with losses due to a lack of fans and their gate-related revenue.

Stroman sidestepped this offseason’s uncertain economic climate and will give free agency another go after the 2021 season. Though it is not clear that next winter’s market will be any better, Stroman’s decision buys him some time while playing for the most exciting team in baseball right now.

It still makes sense for Cohen, and his new frontoffice leadership under team president Sandy Alderson, to sign a major rotation piece this winter. The timeline for Syndergaard’s rehab completion is April at best. The Mets will have a hole to fill until he’s 100% recovered. Lugo was erratic in his switch to the rotation in 2020. If Cohen and Alderson can acquire a couple of quality starters this winter, it may be compatible for Lugo to return to the bullpen representing the surefire bridge to Edwin Diaz.

Stroman is more than a year removed from any competitive pitching. He opted out of the 2020 season in July citing safety and family-related reasons amid the pandemic. The 29-yearold went 4-2 on a 3.77 ERA across 11 starts and 59 2/3 innings for the Mets since he joined the club at the 2019 trade deadline.

But Stroman’s return to Queens in 2021 should be a huge sigh of relief for Mets fans. Now, they can worry less about landing the best free agent on the market in Trevor Bauer to have a shot at a solid rotation next season. Though if Cohen can acquire Bauer, who’s expected to earn a four-year contract in the $ 128 million range, the Mets would morph into a divisional-favorite powerhouse.

Who knows? The Steve Cohen Effect already convinced Stroman to remain with the Mets. He’s just the first player to express excitement to compete for Cohen, but he’s certainly not the last.