Mets: Three reasons Marcus Stroman should get a contract extension

Uncertainty with Noah Syndergaard

Let’s not negate how big of a surgery Tommy John is. Plenty of pitchers never recover from it fully and others see their careers turned upside down. This is the surgery Noah Syndergaard underwent in 2020 with a return date set for some time in 2021.

Without knowing what type of pitcher Syndergaard will be, the Mets have to have a backup plan in place. Otherwise, their 2021 rotation is going to look weaker than it has for a long time.

The Mets may already need to have a thought on which of these two they want on their roster for the next few years. It’s hard to imagine Stroman and Syndergaard together on the roster getting paid free agent contracts. Even with potential new ownership in place that might spend more than the Wilpons, having these two plus Jacob deGrom is asking a lot.

What’s more, there are many other players needed to complete the roster. In which case, the uncertainty about Syndergaard’s future weighs even heavier.

An extension with Stroman is about more than how the team performs in 2021. It’s a longer plan to remain competitive for several more years. Take him away from the 2021 roster, the team runs the risk of having a rotation headlined by deGrom and Steven Matz. This isn’t the type of rotation that wins championships.

Of course, the team can always go in a different direction. The Mets are not married to Stroman. There are other free agents and trade targets. But for my third and final reason as to why Stroman deserves an extension, let’s remember how important it is sometimes to stay with the devil you know and not the one you don’t.