Despite recently recovering from torn left calf muscle injury, All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman won’t make himself available for New York Mets this season. The organization confirmed on Monday that Stroman informed them that he will opt out of 2020.
Mets, who already lost Noah Syndergaard for the season, hoped to have Stroman available this weekend to start against Miami Marlins. The team will now have rookie left-hander David Peterson take the permanent spot in the rotation, while relievers Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman could also get a shot.
Stroman explained his decision to opt-out in a Zoom call with reporters, saying that he wasn’t comfortable with traveling during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic outbreak.
“Obviously, you see the Cardinals, the Marlins, you see spikes everywhere in the country, you see protocols not being handled properly from citizens everywhere,” said Stroman. “You see us going to Florida soon. That was a big discussion I had with my family. Going to see the Marlins soon, that’s something I don’t want to be in that situation.”
Marcus Stroman’s decision to opt-out most likely means that he has played his last game with the New York Mets, considering his free-agent status at the end of the season. Stroman joined Mets in July 2019, making 11 appearances with the franchise since then and posting 4-2 record. He finished the year with 3.77 ERA and 60 strikeouts.
Stroman previously played four and a half seasons with Toronto Blue Jays. He has one career All-Star appearance and Gold Glove Award from 2017.
