(670 The Score) As ace Marcus Stroman seeks a contract extension with the Cubs, chairman Tom Ricketts on Thursday praised Stroman as a player and a person before deferring to president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer regarding a potential new deal.
“Obviously, Marcus has played extremely well right now,” Ricketts said on the Mully & Haugh Show in an interview live from London ahead of the Cubs’ two-game series there against the Cardinals this weekend. “He’s been a big part of our clubhouse. He’s a good guy to have on this team. Everybody enjoys having him around. What we do with his contract is something that Jed will work out with Marcus and his team at some point.”
Stroman, 32, has been public about his desire to remain with the Cubs on a long-term deal and recently indicated the club has rebuffed his efforts to begin contract negotiations. Hoyer has mostly declined to comment on the matter but has suggested the lines of communication are open on his end.
“I’m really excited that he wants to stay,” Ricketts said. “I mean, that’s a question that can be resolved between him and Jed. I know that he’s a very talented player, a big part of this team and I hope it all ends up in the right place.”
Stroman is 9-4 with a 2.28 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 16 starts this season. He leads the National League in wins, ERA and WHIP. Stroman has posted a quality start – at least six innings and three or fewer earned runs allowed – in 14 of his 16 outings. In six of his outings, he hasn’t allowed a run, and Stroman has earned the win in each of his last seven starts. Stroman was 6-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 25 starts in 2022, his first season with the Cubs.
Stroman holds a $21-million player option for 2024 as part of the three-year, $71-million deal that he signed with the Cubs prior to the 2022 season. If Stroman doesn’t reach an extension with the Cubs, he’ll likely decline that option and enter free agency.
The Cubs (36-38) have won 10 of their last 12 games as they prepare to face the Cardinals on Saturday and Sunday at London Stadium. The Cubs are 3.5 games behind the NL Central-leading Reds.
The Cubs-Cardinals games can be heard on 670 The Score this weekend. Pregame coverage Saturday begins at 11:35 a.m.
Listen live to 670 The Score via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker