Mets extend $18.9M qualifying offer to Stroman

The New York Mets extended the $18.9-million qualifying offer to impending free agent right-hander Marcus Stroman before Sunday afternoon's deadline.

If Stroman accepts, he'll return to the Mets at that salary for the 2021 season and be scheduled to become a free agent next fall.

If he rejects the offer, the 29-year-old will hit the open market, and the team that signs him will forfeit a compensatory pick to the Mets in next summer's draft.

Stroman opted out of the 2020 season in August due to COVID-19 concerns. He was also rehabbing a calf injury that had prevented him from pitching this year.

The former All-Star went 4-2 with a 3.77 ERA over 11 starts with the Mets after being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the 2019 trade deadline for pitchers Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson.

Stroman owns a career 3.76 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, and he's accrued a 15.8 WAR in 849 1/3 innings over parts of six seasons.

If he sticks around, the Mets could feature a solid rotation with him alongside ace Jacob deGrom, sophomore lefty David Peterson, and a returning Noah Syndergaard.