Stark: Toronto Could Be Aggressive in Moving Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez

According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, the Toronto Blue Jays have signaled to teams that they could aggressive in trying to trade right-handed starters Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez.

Both Stroman and Sanchez are under team control through the 2020 season so the acquiring team won’t be simply getting a rental. Stroman is making $7.4 million this season and Sanchez is getting $3.9 million, both will be arbitration eligible for the final time this offseason.

Stroman, 28, is enjoying a bounce back season after posting a 0.2 bWAR in 2018. The Long Island native has a 2.74 ERA, 3.57 FIP, 1.33 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, and has allowed only five home runs in 69 innings this year.

Should note on Stroman that his ground ball rate (57.6%) is lowest since rookie season and his fly ball rate (25.4%) is the highest since 2014 as well. His xFIP (expected fielding independent pitching) is a career-high 4.07 this year. The biggest change he’s made in terms of repertoire is dropping the use of his slider significantly (16.7% in 2018 to 3.6% this year) and using his curve way more (32.8% from 13.7% last year).

Sanchez, 26, has a 3.75 ERA, 4,58 FIP, 1.52 WHIP, and 8.4 K.9 this season in 60 innings for the Blue Jays in 12 starts. He has walked a whopping 33 batters, but allowed only six home runs. The former first round pick had his best season in 2016 when he posted a 5.1 bWAR and finished seventh in Cy Young voting.

The Mets starting staff ERA (4.40) ranks 16th in baseball, though their 3.98 FIP ranks them eighth.