Marcus Stroman doubles down on his goal of remaining with the Chicago Cubs

It is no secret that starting pitcher Marcus Stroman wants to remain with the Chicago Cubs beyond this season and that is a sentiment that Stroman doubled down on while speaking with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic on Saturday.

“I don’t know what they’re thinking, where they’re at as far as moving forward, but I would love to stay here and sign an extension and not even get to free agency, honestly,” Stroman said. “I’m very confident myself in free agency as well. I’m real big on just letting it play out. I’m cool either way.”

In the midst of his second season with the Cubs, Stroman does have the ability to forgo the final year of the three-year deal he signed with the team prior to the 2022 season.

While Justin Steele has emerged as the ace of the Cubs starting rotation, Stroman and his energy on the mound is unmatched. Stroman has posted a 2.95 ERA through his first 11 starts this season and given the Cubs' recent play, the veteran starting pitcher's name is bound to come up in trade discussions if the team continues to fall further from the top of the National League Central.

Stroman, for his part, is hoping to avoid a trade this season.

“At this point in my career, I’m so open to anything. But it would bother me a bit, just because I feel like I do love it here, as far as the city, the organization from the top down, the fans,” Stroman told The Athletic on Saturday. “It’s incredible playing at Wrigley. Me coming out here 30 minutes before a game and getting a standing ovation, it’s hard to top that.

After their loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, the Cubs entered play on Sunday as the last-place team in the National League Central. The saving grace for the Cubs has been the weak play of the National League Central as a whole as despite their poor play over the past month, the team remains only 4.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers.

It is Memorial Day and the Cubs' season is already at a crossroads. The month of June will determine the direction that the Cubs take at the trade deadline this season. If the Cubs' struggles continue, it would seem inevitable that the team will move Stroman prior to the trade deadline.

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