Marcus Stroman is happy he will be arriving home, even if it’s not to pitch for the Yankees.
The right-handed pitcher, who grew up on Long Island as a “New York fan” rooting for both local baseball teams, Monday said he needed time a day earlier to let the reality set in that he had been traded to the Mets, but he fully embraced the move.
“I was definitely shocked,” said Stroman, whom the Mets acquired from Toronto for pitching prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson. “I definitely was expecting to get moved to some team at some point obviously before the [trade] deadline because of all the rumors.
“So looking back I was shocked and obviously knowing it was New York was kind of followed by a level of excitement because my family, my friends are Mets fans and coming home is huge. I am excited to be a New York Met and I can’t wait to get there and kind of be a part of it.”
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The 28-year-old Stroman’s pronouncement came following a reported clubhouse “commotion” the previous day after the pitcher learned of the trade. A person who was in the clubhouse told The Post that Stroman was upset to learn he had been dealt to the Mets, instead of a team such as the Yankees, Astros or Red Sox, who are clearly in the postseason hunt.
And Stroman’s father told Newsday that the pitcher was “hoping” he would get traded to the Yankees.
Stroman denied Sunday’s clubhouse “commotion” stemmed from disappointment he had been traded to the Mets.
“The commotion was a discussion I had with some of our coaches and higher-ups in our [organization], so it was kind of an exit meeting where I was just voicing my opinion,” Stroman said. “I didn’t like how a couple of things were handled along the process and that was it. It had nothing to do with the Mets at all. It all hit me kind of quick.”
But Stroman declined to elaborate on what piqued his disappointment in the process. The source in the clubhouse at the time of the meeting said Stroman’s destination was an issue.
“[Stroman] was hoping to go to Houston or the Yankees or Boston or somebody who is a sure thing to get to the playoffs as opposed to the Mets,” the person said.
Stroman, who is under club control through 2020, was an All-Star for the Blue Jays this season, going 6-11 with a 2.96 ERA in 21 starts. Mets officials view him as a solid No. 2 or 3 starter behind Jacob deGrom and possibly Noah Syndergaard. It remains to be seen if that rotation will include Syndergaard, as the Mets still could deal the right-hander before Wednesday’s 4 p.m. trade deadline. If the Mets don’t trade Syndergaard, they could deal Zack Wheeler, an impending free agent.
Stroman said general manager Brodie Van Wagenen told him he would be a perfect fit for the Mets.
“It doesn’t seem like I am going to be going anywhere for a bit,” Stroman said. “I can’t wait to get started.”
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His debut could come Friday in Pittsburgh, but the rotation is subject to change depending upon Syndergaard and Wheeler, who are scheduled to face the White Sox in the Mets’ upcoming series.
“[Stroman] knows how to pitch, he knows how to get outs,” a Blue Jays official said. “He is not going to strike very many guys out, but he’s going to make weak contact and make good pitches. He was always friendly and professional, but he had his own way of doing things.”
Stroman makes no apology for the “energy” and “passion” he brings to the mound.
“It’s extremely authentic to who I am,” Stroman said. “It has nothing to do with trying to show anybody up. I have worked so hard in the offseason and during the year, it’s just when I get out there I have so much emotion. I have so much passion put into it, I only get to play once every five days so it just all gets to be let out.”