NY Mets: 1 reason for bringing back the big four free agents

The Mets Marcus Stroman has proven to be more than valuable to the team’s rotation.

Marcus Stroman’s 2021 performance is one reason why analysts and baseball writers do not put much stock in a pitcher’s win-loss record.

Once Jacob deGrom went down, Marcus Stroman became the team’s number one pitcher, and he had a solid season. He led the majors with 33 starts in 2021 and compiled a 3.02 ERA, 1.145 WHIP, and 158 strikeouts in 179 innings. In a season filled with various injuries to many of the starting pitchers, Stroman’s durability was key in keeping the Mets afloat as long as possible.

Stroman is not a typical pitcher in the modern era. He doesn’t have particularly overpowering stuff, so he is never going to strike out a lot of hitters. However, Stroman is very good at inducing a lot of weak ground balls.

Because the Mets can never have enough pitching, and considering the fact that deGrom and Syndergaard will be coming off injuries to start the 2022 season, the Mets need to bring Stroman back. He was the only Mets pitcher that was able to make his starts last season, and he has a track record of being able to lead a pitching staff if the situation were to arise again.

Unlike Conforto, Stroman enters the free agent market in a great position to get a nice, long-term agreement. He’s coming off a solid year, demonstrating that he can be durable and even lead a staff for stretches at a time, and remains in his prime. The competition for Stroman’s services is expected to be stiff.

However, Mets owner Steve Cohen is known for his deep pockets and willingness to spend. It’s time for him to do so. Unless Stroman decides to give the Mets a hometown discount, which is incredibly unlikely, Cohen and company are going to have to cough up in order to ensure he does not jump ship to a new club.