For the second time this spring training, Toronto Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman is calling out MLB teams for the large number of players still on the free agent market.
In a string of tweets early Monday morning, Stroman questioned why fellow pitchers Dallas Keuchel, Gio Gonzalez and Craig Kimbrel, as well as a bunch of other veterans, remain unsigned less than three weeks before the start of the season.
Earlier in camp, Stroman questioned whether his own team was doing enough to add veterans to compete this season.
“I want to make sure everybody in this organization is doing everything in their power to put the best product out on the field,” Stroman said on Feb. 17. “I still think we just need to mix in some pieces, some moves just around the roster to kind of bolster our roster, whether it be in the ‘pen, whether it be another starter, some position players.”
Since those first comments, the Blue Jays have added veteran pitchers Clay Buchholz and Bud Norris to camp. But there are still plenty of experienced players that remained unsigned, and Stroman is taking it upon himself to help them find work.
“Without the veteran presence in my career, I can honestly say I would not be where I’m at today,” he wrote Monday. “Their words and guidance throughout my journey changed and shaped who I am today as a pitcher, and human-being. Very thankful for all of them!”
[relatedlinks]
