Could a reunion with this former Blue Jay be in the cards?

The Blue Jays have added to their roster this offseason via various additions, but there's still some room for improvement, as Toronto's aging rotation could use some reinforcements.

With all that in mind, would a reunion with former Jays starter Marcus Stroman fit into the club's plans?

Stroman caused a stir in Florida last week when he reported late to Yankees' spring training following a winter filled with trade rumors. The Yankees are aiming to trim their luxury tax payroll and moving at least a portion of his $18.5 million contract would achieve that goal. Stroman also has a near-identical vesting option for 2026.

There's also been some reporting that the Yankees are considering moving Stroman to the bullpen, which the veteran pitcher doesn't seem to be a fan of.

Stroman is no stranger to Toronto fans. He was selected by the Blue Jays in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft and spent parts of six big league season with the club. He accumulated a 47-45 record with a 3.76 ERA and 635 strikeouts in 129 starts.

He was traded to the New York Mets at the 2019 trade deadline, which is where his relationship with the Blue Jays began to get a little spicy.

"I've made the All-Star Game. I had a Gold Glove. I threw back-to-back [seasons] of 200 innings and I never heard a word from any of those guys [in the front office], Stroman said at the time. "There was nothing offered ever from their perspective. If they do say that, it's a complete lie."

It's interesting hearing Stroman talk about the front office's behavior around extending players in light of modern-day conversations surrounding Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and others. This current front office holding firm to their player valuations is a familiar feeling for Blue Jays fans.

While Stroman has changed his tone around Toronto recently (so much so that the Blue Jays reportedly expressed interest in trading for him in 2023), those previous comments could still linger in everyone's minds.

The larger question is whether the front office can forgive and forget while moving past the acrimony surrounding a pitcher who contributed so much for the Blue Jays. Truthfully, the front office doesn't seem like they hold many grudges and Stroman is going to be Stroman. He's played for four teams and ruffled feathers at every stop.

Why would you expect anything different from a pitcher who has beat the odds and accomplished so much over the course of his career? To that end, Stroman wore out his welcome with the Mets and Cubs not long after joining their clubs, and even found himself in a spat with the New York Yankees television broadcaster before ever pitching an inning in pinstripes.

For the Blue Jays, the question of making a play for Stroman is a complicated one. He had a mostly positive reputation in Toronto before the ugly ending. He's is a decent target for the right price, as a still has a career 3.72 ERA despite struggling last year (4.31 ERA in 154 2/3 innings)

A trade for Stroman wouldn't be worth it if the Blue Jays have to eat an inordinate amount of money and/or give up multiple prospects. But, under the right circumstances, a trade between division rivals could end up being exactly what the Blue Jays need to compete this season.