Odds Heavily in Favor of Blue Jays Trading Marcus Stroman Before 2019 Deadline

• Sportsbooks set the odds at -600 that the Toronto Blue Jays will trade pitcher Marcus Stroman at the deadline (Jul. 31)
• The Yankees, Braves, and Astros have all been linked to the righty
• Stroman sits sixth in the AL in ERA at 3.06

You’d expect there to be a lot of scouts at an Indians game, and that will most certainly be the case on Wednesday when Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman  faces Cleveland.

As the July 31 MLB trade deadline fast approaches, the arms race is heating up, with contending teams all in search of methods to acquire more pitching.

Stroman, a standout with the woeful Blue Jays, is a top target. In fact, sportsbooks strongly expect that he’ll be moved. The sportsbook is offering -600 odds that the Jays will move their ace prior to the July 31 deadline.

Will Blue Jays Trade Marcus Stroman Before July 31 MLB Trade Deadline?

*Odds taken 07/23/19

Stroman is just 6-10, but has a superb 3.06 ERA in 20 starts this season. He’s sixth in the American League in ERA.

Lots To Like About Stroman

The Blue Jays’ ace can provide quite a bit to a team in the playoff chase. The 2019 MLB All-Star Game selection was 13-9 as recently as 2017, when the Jays weren’t quite so dismal. He finished eighth in AL Cy Young Award voting that year.

Manifest your dreams! #HDMH pic.twitter.com/ZLOtz4zFfw

— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) July 22, 2019

Stroman also offers playoff experience. He’s started five postseason games, so he’s well-versed at pitching in pressure situations. He’s also one of baseball’s best defensive pitchers. Stroman won a Gold Glove in 2017. He led AL pitchers in assists each of the last two seasons.

Yankees A Good Fit

Stroman hails from Medford, NY. He’s made no bones about the fact that he’d love to don pinstripes.

The Yankees could certainly use what he has to offer. They’ve been forced to go the whole season without ace Luis Severino (rotator cuff, lat strain). The Bronx Bombers have run eight different starting pitchers out to the hill this season.

Those starters have combined for a 4.11 ERA and 4.62 FIP. According to FanGraphs WAR, that ranks the Yankees’ starting staff eighth in the AL.

Don’t buy into the old adages about not trading within the division. Last season, the Jays traded starter JA Happ to the Yankees at the deadline.

Braves Hold Familiarity

Up until 2018, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos held the same position with the Blue Jays, so he knows what Stroman is all about.

If #BlueJays indeed were reluctant to trade with #Braves, that stance has softened, sources say. Thus, Stroman and/or Giles to ATL possible. As Dave notes, Giles might be preference. Anthopoulos acquired two of his other former Jays – Bautista (later released) and Donaldson. 2/2

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 21, 2019

Anthopoulos also knows that, beyond Mike Soroka (10-2) and Max Fried (10-4), his rotation is deep south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Kevin Gausman is 3-5 with a 5.71 ERA. Mike Foltynewicz is 2-5 with a 6.37 ERA. They’ve been bad. Julio Teheran (5-6, 3.61 ERA) is inconsistent, with just eight quality starts during his last 21 trips to the mound.

Of Course He’s Moving

The Jays are going nowhere. They’re 27.5 games behind the AL East-leading Yankees. Stroman’s contract is up at the end of the season.

Marcus Stroman trade value: Rising.

— Christopher Crawford (@Crawford_MILB) July 20, 2019

There’s absolutely no compelling reason for the Blue Jays to keep him. Toronto just got home from a 10-game road trip but Stroman would be wise to keep his bags packed.