The New York Mets acquired Marcus Stroman from the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, but the right-hander was apparently envisioning a move to the Bronx, not Queens.
Earl Stroman, Marcus' father, said his son assumed he would be traded to either the New York Yankees or Houston Astros prior to the July 31 deadline. When rumors swirled of a trade to the Empire State, Earl said Marcus "was hoping it was the Yankees a little bit," according to Steven Marcus of Newsday.
"He was kind of psyched, maybe hoping to go there. I'm not going to tell you that he wasn't," the elder Stroman said. "If he was to leave Toronto at all. Don't forget, Marcus loved Toronto, his heart was there. The brass didn't kind of appreciate him as much as the fans did. The whole country took to him and they took to me."
Once the news broke that he was headed to the Mets, though, Stroman was excited to be heading home, regardless of the team he was joining.
"Anything he can help them do to win he'll be happy. Marcus is happy about being home, hopefully they make a push towards the playoffs," Earl said.
However, there was an apparent commotion inside the Blue Jays' clubhouse following Sunday's game, with Mike Puma of the New York Post reporting that it was caused by Stroman's initial disappointment that he wasn't traded to a contender such as the Yankees, Astros, or Boston Red Sox.
Stroman is a native of Medford, N.Y., which is located less than 50 miles away from Citi Field.
The Blue Jays shipped Stroman and cash considerations to the Mets for a pair of pitching prospects in Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson.
Stroman owns a 2.96 ERA and 3.53 FIP over 21 starts this season.
The Mets reportedly plan to make a corresponding move by trading fellow right-hander Noah Syndergaard prior to Wednesday's deadline.