Cubs Insider Says It's 'Highly Likely' Star Pitcher Opts Into Contract

Insider for the Chicago Cubs says that he thinks its very likely that their star pitcher will opt into this salary for the 2024 season.

The Chicago Cubs are currently in a major battle to get into the postseason after looking like they might be able to comfortably qualify.

That's no longer the case as they now hold the third Wild Card position after being in the second spot for seemingly the majority of the second half of the year.

The Cubs got good news when Marcus Stroman was activated off the injured list. He was one of the top pitchers in the MLB before getting hurt and is one of the top pitchers on this Chicago staff.

Getting him back, whether it's as a starter or out of the bullpen for the remainder of the year, will help stabilize their shaky pitching situation.

Stroman also has a player option for 2024 after signing a three-year, $71 million contract with the Cubs in the 2021 offseason.

He's set to make $21 million if he opts-in, but was previously expected to test free agency once again based on how he was performing at the beginning of this season.

Now, insider Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic says the star pitcher will likely return next season.

"Stroman’s public lobbying for a contract extension probably revealed some apprehension about how he would be viewed on the free-agent market, as well as an appreciation for his setup with the Cubs. It appears to be highly likely that Stroman will opt into his $21 million salary for next season," he writes.

That is major news for Chicago who will now have a solidified rotation going into next season with Stroman, Cy Young contender Justin Steele and their two young stars, Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks.