According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the Mets plan to extend the newly raised $18.9 million qualifying offer to Marcus Stroman prior to the deadline tomorrow at 5 p.m. ET.

The Long Island native will then have until November 10 to either accept or decline the offer they extended. If he declines, the Mets will receive draft pick compensation in the 2021 MLB Draft.

It is expected that the 29-year-old will decline the qualifying offer and elect free agency. But with the uncertainty of this unique offseason, there may be a chance he accepts it and tests free agency next year. However, it is more likely he will be searching for a plentiful, long-term deal.

If Stroman does decline the qualifying offer, that does not necessarily mean he will not return to the Mets. With new owner Steve Cohen running the ship, there may be a discussion to give him that long-term contract in free agency.

Stroman was injured to start the 2020 season with a tear in his calf, and opted out of the 2020 season mid-injury list stint citing his high-risk family members. The starter didn’t want to put his family at risk any more than they already were.

Prior to the 2020 season, Stroman, split 2019 between the Blue Jays and the Mets after being traded at the August deadline. In 2019, he posted a 3.22 ERA in 32 starts across 184.1 IP with 159 strikeouts. Stroman also put up a 1.30 WHIP, 3.72 FIP, and a 3.9 WAR across both the Mets and the Blue Jays, with a 10-13 record on the year. The soon-to-be 30-year-old is coming off of a season where the only live pitching he did was in their shortened spring training back in February and March.

FanGraphs’ projections show his numbers for 2021 and 2022 remaining stagnant where his projected ERA is 3.60 and 3.80, respectively, along with back-to-back 150 IP seasons, a WAR hanging around 3.0 and a WHIP of 1.2.

FanGraphs’ Top 50 Free Agents list has Marcus Stroman at #11, estimating an AAV of $13.0M for two years totaling $26M, and $16.0M for four years totaling $64M.

Additionally, Tim Healey of Newsday reported that right-handed reliever Brad Brach has exercised his player option for 2021. It was expected that the New Jersey native would utilize the option to continue playing for his childhood team. Brach will make $2.075 million next season.

Brad Brach started his 2020 season on the COVID-19 injured list and rejoined the team on August 11.

Brach, 34, posted a 5.84 ERA in 2020, having pitched in 14 of 60 total games this past season. Brach threw 12.1 IP, collecting 14 strikeouts, 14 walks, a 6.68 FIP, 1.78 WHIP, and a -0.2 WAR.