Mets starting pitcher Marcus Stroman has decided to opt out of the MLB season

There is no hard deadline for MLB players to opt out of this season like there was in the NFL, and on Monday New York Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman decided he wouldn't play the rest of the way. Fairly big loss for New York, which is already without original No. 2 starter Noah Syndergaard this season due to Tommy John surgery in late March.

Stroman, who is set for unrestricted free agency, came over in trade during last season from Toronto and was 4-2 with a 3.77 ERA in 11 starts for New York. The 2019 All-Star (before the trade) had yet to pitch this year in a game after suffering a tear in his left calf on the eve of the restart. Stroman had been throwing simulated games and appeared close to a return.

Stroman said his left calf is now back to 100 percent, but he made a family decision to not play this year due to concerns over COVID-19. He changed his mind about playing because of the coronavirus outbreaks on the Marlins and Cardinals, spikes elsewhere in the country and players across baseball not following protocols.

While on the injured list, Stroman exceeded six years of service, which allows him to be a free agent this winter. That trade is going to go down as a terrible one for the Mets and GM Brodie Van Wagenen considering he got all of 59.2 innings out of Stroman and it cost Van Wagenen pitching prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods.

The Mets are third in the NL East at 7-9 entering Monday. Their pitching outside of two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom has been a disappointment with a 4.60 ERA. DeGrom has two quality starts and the rest of the team three combined. New York is +450 on the William Hill sportsbook odds to win the NL East. 

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