Cubs ace Marcus Stroman says team 'not interested in exploring' contract extension' now
Marcus Stroman wants to remain with the Chicago Cubs, but he doesn't seem so sure they want to stay in Chicago.
The Cubs' ace took to Twitter on Saturday to call out the team for not negotiating with his agent on a contract extension.
After one Twitter account rattled off some of his stats for this season − "14 Games Started, 12 Quality Starts, 1 Complete Game, 85.2 IP, 2.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP" − Stroman tweeted:
"My agent and I made multiple attempts to engage them on an extension. Club wasn’t interested in exploring it now. Will see how it plays out! Love everything about the @Cubs organization!"
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My agent and I made multiple attempts to engage them on an extension. Club wasn’t interested in exploring it now. Will see how it plays out! Love everything about the @Cubs organization!
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) June 10, 2023
Stroman told reporters Saturday: "I want nothing more than to be a Cub. I kill myself 24/7 on and off the field to perform, to keep my body is position, to keep my mind in position. I truly believe I prepare like nobody else so I know my worth."
Stroman is having a fabulous year, 7-4 with a 2.42 ERA, pitching a league-leading 85 ⅔ innings.
If Stroman and the Cubs can't reach an agreement on a contract extension, Chicago may have no choice but to trade him by the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Stroman also has an opt-out clause in his contract that he’s expected to exercise, knowing he can certainly earn much more on the open market than the $21 million he’s due in 2024.
"I know how narratives get created in media from the top down, once it starts to creep towards the trade deadline and how they try to make it sound like players are unsignable or don’t want to be here, like, I want to be here more than anything," Stroman said Saturday when addressing his earlier tweet. "So I made that known. There’s been no rebuttal from their side.
"Ideally I’d want to be a Cub, but it’s a business at the end of the day and that’s how it has to be handled at times."
Follow Nightengale on Twitter: @Bnightengale.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marcus Stroman says Chicago Cubs not exploring contract extension now
