Marcus Stroman doesn’t think he’ll be with the Blue Jays “long term.”
Toronto could look to move the 28-year-old ace before the deadline and the Yankees are reportedly interested in dealing for him. Stroman discussed the trade rumors Tuesday after his team's 3-1 loss to the Angels.
“I’m starting to really, truly understand the business of baseball and the business of sports,” Stroman said, via Sportsnet. “They’ve been throwing my name around in trade talks all the time. It doesn’t seem like I’m going to be signed here to a long-term deal. It’s just something you have to come to terms with.”
Stroman allowed four hits and three runs in seven innings of work against Los Angeles. He struck out three and walked one while throwing 102 pitches.
Tonight’s episode was Stro good 👏👏👏@MStrooo6 tonight: 7 IP, 4 H, 3 ER pic.twitter.com/dtUzWMtRGK
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 19, 2019
“I love this team,” Stroman said. “I love Toronto. I love everything about the country and I’m going to continue to go out there each and every start and just compete, compete, compete. Do everything I can to limit runs.
“It seems like everyone’s saying I’m not going to be (here after the July 31 deadline). I don’t know. I’m doing everything in my power to keep that out of my head. The more (time) I spend thinking about that, the more it’s going to take away from me on the field.”
Stroman holds a 4-9 record with a 3.23 ERA this season after his start Tuesday. He has spent his entire six-year career with the Blue Jays.
“I’ve seen the whole cycle,” Stroman said. “The ups, the downs. I love being a Blue Jay. There’s no other team that I would have traded to start my career. The things that we’ve been through since I’ve been here. I feel like I embody the city of Toronto and take that passion out there with me every fifth day.”
The Blue Jays finished play Tuesday with a 26-47 record, 13 1/2 games out of the second American League wild-card spot.