The St. Louis Cardinals are in dire need of some top-notch pitching, and the recent news of Marcus Stroman turning down his $21 million contract option with the Chicago Cubs has sparked some major speculation. Will he follow in the footsteps of Willson Contreras and make the switch from Chicago to St. Louis? According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, it’s definitely a possibility. The St. Louis Cardinals are on the hunt for some serious pitching power, and one name that keeps popping up is former Chicago Cubs star Marcus Stroman. With Stroman turning down a $21 million contract option with the Cubs, the question on everyone’s mind is: could he be making his way to St. Louis?
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, it’s definitely a possibility. “Where does Stroman end up? That’s another interesting question,” Heyman said in an interview with B/R Walk-Off. “I think he made the right call in not coming back to the Cubs for $21 million dollars. The way this pitching market is right now, I think Stroman does much better than that, gets a multi-year deal maybe with an opt-out. Obviously he was injured in the second-half for the most part last year, but he performed outstanding in the first-half.”
Heyman also noted that Stroman has never had a major arm injury, making him an attractive option for teams in need of a reliable starter. And one team that has been linked to Stroman is none other than the St. Louis Cardinals.
Despite a rough 2023 season, the Cardinals’ offense held its own. But their pitching was a different story, and it’s clear that they need some serious help in that department. With a lineup led by Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, the Cardinals have the potential to be a top contender once again. But they’ll need to upgrade their starting rotation if they want to make a real run for the title.
Enter Marcus Stroman. With his impressive first-half performance, Stroman has proven that he has what it takes to lead a rotation. And despite some injury concerns in the second half of the season, the Cardinals are reportedly willing to take a chance on him with a long-term contract.
Stroman would be a great addition to the Cardinals’ rotation in 2024, and the team could then focus on signing or trading for a few more reliable pitchers to round out their starting lineup. With Stroman at the helm, the Cardinals have the potential to become a serious force in the league once again.
