New York Mets: Three Marcus Stroman predictions for 2020

The 2020 season will be the first full year for Marcus Stroman as a member of the New York Mets. What should we expect from him?

New York native, Marcus Stroman, was brought back home last summer in a deal that surprised many teams across the league, and even Stroman himself initially. The New York Mets acquired the former first-round pick out of Duke University in exchange for their top two pitching prospects at the time, LHP Anthony Kay and RHP Simeon Woods-Richardson.

To say this deal ignited an exciting pennant run for the New York Mets team would be an accurate assessment; one that re-invigorated a discontent locker room and transformed this clubhouse from a 50-55, below .500 team before the deal into the playoff-contending 86-76 record they finished the season with; just 3 games out of the second Wild Card seed.

During that time, Stroman went 4-2 as a starter while posting a middling 3.77 ERA through 11 games. Not bad for someone getting reacquainted with life in New York City with the brighter lights and spotlights placed on professional athletes in this intense sports market.

Perfect third starter material

After being voted to the 2019 American League All-Star roster as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays before being traded midseason, the Mets and Stroman avoided arbitration by agreeing on a one-year, $12 million contract for the 2020 season, representing an increase from the $7.4 million he made last year. Prior to the start of the 2020 season, Mets fans should expect the young righty to be worth every bit of this deal.

Following the club’s decision not to pursue Zack Wheeler in free agency, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see Marcus Stroman penciled in as the Mets third starting pitcher. Unlike Wheeler, whose arm strength and ball-control ability helped him overpower opposing batters at the plate, Stroman’s short stature and pitch sequencing are what differentiates him as a ground-ball pitcher from his former teammate.

Similarly, it’s what distinguishes him from his teammates Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard who headline the Mets rotation as bonafide power arms.

Stroman’s smooth delivery and overall swag on the mound make him the perfect fit for the position. By adding balance in the middle of their rotation and serving as a steady arm in the Mets rotation, he is a viable option to open or close any three-game series against opponents.

Double-Digit wins, an ERA near 3.00

The 2019 campaign culminated in a middling second-half performance for the 28-year-old compared to prior seasons; even though he was considered the highest-profile pitcher available at last year’s Trade Deadline. For someone the front office gave up so much talent for, in LHP Anthony Kay and RHP Simeon Woods-Richardson, Stroman’s performance did not exceed anyone’s expectations or transcend time.

Apart from his second, and arguably best, start for the Amazins’ against the Washington Nationals on August 9th, where he struck out nine over six frames and earned a no-decision for his efforts, his September performances diminished as his ERA rose from the 2.96 when he joined the club, to the 3.77 he finished with throughout his 11 starts in Queens.

However, it’s important to note that the Mets won 8 of those 11 games Stroman started even though only he went 4-2 during this stretch. For this reason, expect him to have 10+ wins and an ERA closer to 3.00 – mirroring his best year as a Toronto Blue Jay in 2017 when he went 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 33 starts.

I believe, since this is his contract year and his incentive levels are high, that he will improve from the sub .500, 10–13 win/loss record he finished up with this past year, posting a 3.22 ERA through 32 games split between Blue Jays and Mets:

6-11, 2.96 ERA through 21 games in Toronto
4-2, 3.77 ERA through 11 games in New York

He still finished with a 4.1 WAR, which may be a sign of bigger and better things to come in his first full season in orange and blue.