Mets’ Marcus Stroman: 2020 MLB season ‘not looking promising’
by Mark FischerMets pitcher Marcus Stroman is losing hope that baseball will be back this summer.
“This season is not looking promising,” Stroman tweeted Tuesday after the players union was left disappointed by MLB’s latest financial proposal, which entails the highest-paid players taking greater pay cuts than their peers — and more pay cuts than the union thought it would need to take for baseball to return from its shutdown.
The player’s union remains steadfast in abiding by the money agreement the two sides reached in March, which stated the union would earn their salaries on a prorated basis — without pay cuts — with the return of baseball.
MLB, meanwhile, says that agreement included a provision that would allow for further negotiating should games be played without fans, which would be the case because of the coronavirus pandemic. MLB is hoping to begin this season in July.
Stroman, who is signed to a one-year, $12 million contract, would make around $3 million in an 82-game season under the league’s latest proposal, according to an ESPN estimate.
![https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/marcus-stroman-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&strip=all https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/marcus-stroman-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&strip=all](https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/marcus-stroman-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&strip=all)
Anthony J Causi
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who is slated to earn $36 million this season, would earn around $8 million in this scenario, The Post’s Joel Sherman reported.
Sixty-five percent of players make less than $1 million, and so their wallets wouldn’t be hit has hard.
As part of that March agreement, owners made a $170 million advance payment to teams covering April and May.
“Keeping the mind and body ready regardless,” Stroman said. “Time to dive into some life-after-baseball projects. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Brighter times remain ahead!”
Because MLB and the union already agreed that players would receive a full year of service time even if the entire season is canceled, there is a chance Stroman could have played his last game in Queens.
When asked by a fan if this could be his last season, the 29-year-old Stroman responded, “Very possible. No clue if they’ll want to extend me. Just have to wait and see how it all plays out!”
The 2019 All-Star righty would be among the top free-agent pitchers available if the Mets don’t resign him.
Stroman, a Long Island native, was 3-2 with a 3.06 ERA after being traded from the Blue Jays to the Mets last season.