Most fans are suckers for a good reunion story — the kind that hits just right, stirs up nostalgia, and makes you believe in second chances.
Like LeBron James going back to Cleveland and ending a 52-year title drought. Or Mario Lemieux pulling a Penguins jersey over his pads one last time — not just a comeback, but a revival. Major League Baseball has had its own reunion magic: Rickey Henderson returning to Oakland to win both a World Series ring and an MVP. It happens. Sometimes.
But not always. For every Rickey, there’s a Ken Griffey Jr. hitting .214 in Seattle. Or an aging Ichiro Suzuki returning more for ceremony than impact. The jersey looks familiar. The performance? Not so much.
And that brings us to the Chicago Cubs and Marcus Stroman.
Trade Deadline Failings Could Have Cubs Considering Reunion With Marcus Stroman
With the trade deadline behind them and a patchwork rotation trying to hold things together, the Cubs find themselves in a position where a reunion with a familiar face might be tempting. Stroman, recently released by the New York Yankees after an injury-plagued, ineffective season, is available. The timing is convenient.
But the logic? Much harder to find.
Stroman, 34, signed a two-year, $37 million deal with New York before the 2024 season — and he started decently. A 4.31 ERA over 29 starts is respectable in the AL East. But the wheels came off late. He posted an 8.80 ERA in September and never threw a pitch in the postseason as the Yankees marched to the World Series.
This year was worse. He’s made just nine starts — a 6.23 ERA, a WHIP of 1.54, and visible signs that the body isn’t cooperating. The Yankees, facing roster crunch and armed with Luis Gil returning and rookie Cam Schlittler forcing the issue, decided to eat over $5 million just to let Stroman go. That’s not a decision contenders make lightly.
And yes, he was solid in Chicago. Over two seasons with the Cubs (2022–2023), Stroman posted a sub-4.00 ERA in both years, made 50 starts, and earned an All-Star nod in 2023. But that version of Stroman — sinker-balling, groundball-inducing, feisty Stroman — hasn’t been seen in a while.
Nick Ziegler of Sports Illustrated put it bluntly: “Stroman hasn’t been a good pitcher and wouldn’t be an upgrade for the Cubs. Despite it being tempting to try to tap into the potential that Stroman recently had in 2023, he is now 34 years old and seemingly heading in the wrong direction.”
Batters hit .277 off of Stroman last season; they’re batting .282 off of him in 2025. Those are the second- and third-worst averages against Stroman in his 11 MLB seasons.
And that’s not the sign of a pitcher on the verge of turning it around. That’s a pitcher whose margin for error has evaporated.
Chicago Cubs Must Prioritize Marcus Stroman’s Recent Struggles Over Past Positives
Beyond the numbers, there’s the fit. Stroman didn’t exactly leave Chicago on the best of terms. After a brilliant first half in 2023, he struggled post-All-Star break and was critical of how the team handled his injury situation. Even if fences have been mended, the vibes aren’t quite pristine.
And while the Cubs could use pitching depth, there’s a difference between needing a guy and taking on a liability. A team trailing by 2.5 games in the NL Central can’t afford to play rehab project roulette.
It’s natural to look backward when the present feels uncertain. Stroman was good here. He was electric at times. But bringing him back now feels more like fan service than forward-thinking.
The Cubs already had their Stroman chapter. It’s not one that needs a sequel.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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