The pool of free agent pitching candidates that might be on the Red Sox radar just got thinner.
According to multiple reports, Marcus Stroman is accepting the Mets' qualifying offer which will play him $18.9 million for 2021.
Stroman represented one of the higher-end pitchers on the free agent market, slotting behind Trevor Bauer (who is rejecting the qualifying offer). The next most coveted free agent pitcher appears to be Kevin Gausman, who is not expected to accept the qualifying offer from the Giants.
The 29-year-old was projected by MLB Trade Rumors to reel in a four-year, $68 million contract in free agency.
Stroman is coming off a 2020 in which he made 11 starts, compiling a 3.77 ERA for the Mets.