Stroman opted out of his contract with the Cubs and became a free agent Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Stroman was set to make $21 million during the final season of the three-year deal he signed in 2021, but he will forego the money and instead test the free agent market during the offseason. Across 136.2 innings, the 32-year-old righty put up a 3.95 ERA -- his worst mark since 2018 -- but he's been reliable enough throughout his career to warrant a multi-year contract.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Struggles in start
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Stroman (10-9) allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits and struck out two without walking a batter over two innings, taking the loss versus Atlanta on Thursday.
Stroman has pitched eight innings over four appearances since returning from a stint on the injured list, allowing eight runs (five earned) in that span. The right-hander appears set to be a relief option if the Cubs are able to secure a wild-card spot. Stroman is at a 3.95 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 119:52 K:BB through 136.2 innings across 27 outings (25 starts) this season.
Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Gets another turn through rotation
Rotowire
Stroman is slated to start Thursday's game in Atlanta.
After making his first two appearances as a reliever following his activation from the 15-day injured list Sept. 15, Stroman rejoined the rotation Saturday. However, he was capped at three innings while taking a no-decision against Colorado, giving up three runs on five hits and one walk. Though Stroman will make a second straight turn through the rotation, he could be capped at around 75-to-90 pitches after building up to 64 on Saturday. The Cubs could once again choose to deploy Stroman in tandem with Javier Assad, who tossed four scoreless frames in relief of the right-hander against the Rockies.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Short outing in return to rotation
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Stroman did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over three innings against Colorado. He struck out two.
Stroman wasn't particularly sharp in his first start -- his first two appearances came out of the bullpen -- since landing on the injured list Aug. 2, needing 64 pitches (39 strikes) to make it through three frames. In the first half of the season, he posted a 2.96 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 112.2 innings, earning Stroman an All-Star nod for the second time in his nine-year MLB career. However, the second half hasn't been so kind to the veteran righty, as he endured a six-week stay on the injured list and has posted a 9.41 ERA with a 1.95 WHIP across 22 innings since the All-Star break. He lines up for his final start of the regular season Thursday in Atlanta.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Will get start Saturday
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Stroman will start Saturday's game in Chicago against the Rockies, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Stroman has been working in relief since he returned last Friday from a lengthy absence due to hip inflammation and a rib cage cartilage fracture. He didn't throw more than 31 pitches in a single outing during his stay in the bullpen, but the right-hander has presumably stretched himself out in side sessions ahead of jumping back into the rotation. Colorado's offense struggles away from Coors Field, sitting dead last in MLB in road wRC+ at 75, so Stroman might carry some fantasy streaming appeal in Saturday's matchup even if his workload is capped.
Stroman struck out one and allowed a hit and an unearned run over an inning of relief in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Diamondbacks in 13 innings.
Stroman worked out of the bullpen for the second straight day, giving the righty three total innings of relief work after not pitching in a game since the end of July. Stroman was arguably the team's best starter earlier in the season, but at this point, the Cubs seem content using him as a reliever as he builds back up following the absence. He could give the rotation a boost if the team makes the playoffs, though fantasy managers may not be able to take advantage.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Works out of bullpen Friday
Rotowire
Stroman (ribs) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three over two scoreless innings of relief in Friday's 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.
The Cubs were down 6-0 when Stroman entered the game, though he kept it close enough for them to threaten with a ninth-inning rally. The right-hander hadn't made a relief appearance since his rookie year in 2014, though this may have been a way for the Cubs to get him some game action prior to a return to the rotation. He has a 3.79 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 53:11 K:BB through 130.2 innings over 24 appearances (23 starts) this season. The Cubs haven't specified when Stroman will make his first start after a six-week absence.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Activated from IL
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The Cubs reinstated Stroman (ribs) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Stroman initially landed on the injured list Aug. 2 due to right hip inflammation, but his stay on the IL was extended after he suffered a right rib cage cartilage fracture in mid-August. Stroman resumed throwing Aug. 29 and will now return to the Cubs' rotation without embarking on a rehab assignment, though there's no word yet on when his next start might come. The 32-year-old righty started the year strong, but Stroman allowed 17 runs in 10 innings across his last three starts prior to getting injured, and he will likely have some rust to knock off after being out for over a month. Daniel Palencia was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.
Stroman (ribs) will throw a session of live batting practice Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The 32-year-old threw 29 pitches in his first session of live BP on Thursday, and he should continue building on that workload Monday. If all goes well, Stroman could soon be cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the big-league rotation.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Faces hitters Thursday
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Stroman (ribs) threw a 29-pitch live batting practice session Thursday in Arizona, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Stroman has now advanced to facing live hitters as he works back from a rib cage cartilage fracture. On the shelf since late July, the 32-year-old right-hander appears to be nearing a minor-league rehab assignment and might be an option again for the Cubs' rotation in a couple of weeks. When healthy this season, Stroman has posted a 3.85 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 111:50 K:BB in 23 starts covering 128.2 innings.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Throws bullpen session
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Stroman (ribs) threw a successful bullpen session Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
It was his first time throwing off a mound since he was diagnosed with a right rib cage cartilage fracture in mid-August. Stroman still has a lot of hurdles to clear, but he could potentially be an option again for the Cubs' rotation around late September if all continues to go well. His last major-league start was July 31 against the Reds.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Bullpen on tap
Rotowire
Stroman (ribs) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Stroman is at the Cubs spring training facility in Arizona and will return to the mound Monday for the first time since being diagnosed with the rib fracture in mid-August. The right-hander originally landed on the shelf Aug. 2 with hip inflammation before the rib issue was eventually revealed. Stroman was shut down from throwing for a couple weeks before he resumed playing catch Wednesday, so he'll likely require a few bullpen sessions before being cleared to face live batters.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Plays catch Wednesday
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Stroman (ribs) played some long toss Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The loss-tossing work marks the first time Stroman has done any throwing since he was diagnosed with a right rib cage cartilage fracture two weeks ago. It's clearly a significant step forward for the right-hander, but he's working within a tight window to return to the Cubs' rotation before the end of the season. Stroman initially went on the 15-day injured list in early August with a hip issue.
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Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Cleared for light activity
Rotowire
Stroman (hip/ribs) was cleared for light activity Tuesday following an examination of the fracture in his right rib cage cartilage, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The exam showed a good amount of healing in his rib cage, but there remains no exact timetable for Stroman's return to the Cubs' starting rotation. He originally landed on the injured list Aug. 2 due to right hip inflammation and is probably still at least a couple of weeks away from being able to pitch in live games.
Cubs' Marcus Stroman: Out indefinitely with rib fracture
Rotowire
Stroman was diagnosed Wednesday with a right rib cage cartilage fracture and is without a timetable to return from the 15-day injured list, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Stroman initially appeared on track to come off the IL when first eligible to start Wednesday's series finale with the White Sox, but that plan was scrapped after he reported renewed discomfort in the rib cage area Tuesday. Follow-up tests have now confirmed the nature of Stroman's setback, and the two-time All-Star now looks as though he could be out through the end of August, if not longer. While Stroman remains on the mend, Drew Smyly could make his return to the rotation when the Cubs require a fifth starter again during next week's series in Detroit.
