Chicago Cubs Rumors: Toronto Blue Jays interested in Marcus Stroman

All signs are pointing to Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman being available at the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline.

The Cubs have yet to definitively declare themselves as buyers or sellers ahead of the August 1 deadline but there has been an overwhelming expectation that the team will sell as they shift their focus toward contending in 2024.

If that is the case, Stroman, who can opt out of his current contract this off-season, will inevitably be traded.

Stroman's market is beginning to be defined as Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reported on Sunday that the Toronto Blue Jays and Cubs have had conversations about a potential deal.

According to MLB sources, the Blue Jays are one of the teams that have expressed strong interest in what may be a Stroman sweepstakes by the last week of July.

Both the Cubs and Jays have done their due diligence on the strength of each other's farm systems. Stroman was drafted and promoted through the Blue Jays’ system before getting traded to the Mets during the 2019 season. He compiled a 47 -45 record with Toronto and a 3.76 ERA in six seasons.

One prospect that may be of interest to the Cubs is infielder Addison Barger. Barger has 16 home runs across three levels of the Blue Jays organization this season and has a strong enough arm that a move to third base could make him a potential target for the Cubs in a trade involving Stroman.

Ideally, the Cubs may want to sell Stroman to other teams before finding a match with the Blue Jays.

If the Cubs are going to be sellers at the deadline, Stroman will be coveted as many believe he will be the top starting pitcher on the trade market. With that being the case, the Cubs may want to dangle Stroman in front of a prospect-rich team such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, or Cincinnati Reds.

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