The New York Mets shocked the baseball world last year when they made the blockbuster trade to bring Marcus Stroman back home to the Big Apple. Stroman put up very solid numbers last year finishing with an ERA of 3.22 as well as his first All-Star Game appearance. Stroman fits perfectly into the Mets elite rotation. His ability to pitch to the ground ball perfectly complements Jacob DeGrom’s style of pitching to the strikeout.
However, Stroman did struggle a bit in his 11 starts in New York. He pitched at an ERA of 3.77 in New York which is quite a bit higher than the 2.96 he posted in Toronto. Stroman’s H/9 also inflated from 8.5 to 9.8 when he got to New York. These stats are not bad at all, but the Mets did give up a lot in terms of prospects for Stroman.
The shortened season could provide some problems for the New York Mets. First of all, Noah Syndergaard is out for the season. Second, the Mets face an extremely difficult schedule in 2020. The first five series in which the Mets play pit them against offensive juggernauts such as the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, and Washington Nationals.
If the Mets get off to a slow start against these teams, they could enter selling mode at the August 31st trade deadline. They could look to trade Stroman and other players on expiring contracts for top-tier prospects. The farm system in New York has since been depleted after losing Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn to Seattle (for Cano and Diaz), as well as Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson to Toronto (for Stroman). If the Mets are unable to contend, flipping Stroman could net them a top 100 prospect from a contender or a team in need of starters such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, or Tampa Bay Rays.
If the Mets were to approach the trade deadline at around .500 they could also be in buying mode. GM, Brodie Van Wagenen, has proven that he is aggressive when it comes to acquiring players. So, it is indeed possible that the Mets could look into acquiring pieces like Ken Giles or Josh Hader for a playoff push.
Marcus Stroman has the potential to be a Cy Young candidate, but he could also struggle and post mediocre numbers. With the shortened season it’s so hard to predict how players will perform.
If Stroman performs well, the Mets could push for the playoffs, if he doesn’t he could be traded and kickstart a rebuild.
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