Mets right-hander Marcus Stroman has accepted the New York Mets' one-year, $18.9-million qualifying offer.
The team made the offer to the free agent on November 1 but—considering it’s the Mets, you can understand why Stroman needed a good week or so to think about it.
Nevertheless, he really sold it yesterday on social media when he confirmed on Twitter he had taken it, saying, "Beyond excited to be back in Queens in 2021!"
Stroman entered free agency without throwing a pitch during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. After recovering from a torn muscle in his left calf, which he suffered just two days before the season opener, the right-hander decided in August to opt out of the remainder of the season following discussions with his family about the coronavirus pandemic.
At the time, the 29-year-old Stroman said the decision was made solely "for the best interests of my family," adding that his grandmother and uncle have compromised immune systems and are around his mother on a regular basis.
His decision to opt out came after a second simulated game in which he threw 85 pitches, with the intention of returning to the Mets' rotation the following week. He was then placed on the restricted list.
Source: ESPN