Happy MLB Trade Deadline Day Eve! With just one full shopping day remaining until this year's single deadline and plenty of intrigue remaining, we asked our MLB experts to dive into the players, teams and themes that could make the biggest splash before the clock strikes 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Here's what Bradford Doolittle, Sam Miller, Buster Olney and Jeff Passan had to say about key questions going into the deadline.

Schoenfield: Which teams most need to make a move? | Fantasy impact of deadline deals

Who is the biggest name who will be traded before the deadline?

Sam Miller: Noah Syndergaard.

Buster Olney: Edwin Diaz. If the Dodgers get him -- and they are trying -- Los Angeles would be a prohibitive favorite to roll through the National League in the playoffs.

Jeff Passan: Edwin Diaz. Where he goes -- or, more accurate, who ponies up -- is the ultimate question.

Bradford Doolittle: I hope I'm wrong, but I fear that Marcus Stroman will be it. Ordinarily you'd at least plug in a pending free agent on a bad team who would make no sense to stay put, but this market even lacks one of those.

Who is one big name we will hear in trade rumors until the deadline who will ultimately stay put?

Passan: Madison Bumgarner. Even as the starting-pitching market shrinks and teams up their offers, the Giants' above-.500 record will prove too alluring to deal Bumgarner.

Olney: Madison Bumgarner. The Giants players have earned the right to try to ride out the wave and put Bruce Bochy in the playoffs one final time before he retires.

Doolittle: It's hard for me to see how the acquisition of Stroman makes sense for the Mets if you turn around and deal Syndergaard for a return that only improves New York's outlook for 2020. So I say Thor stays put.

Miller: Kyle Tucker. Also MacKenzie Gore. Gavin Lux. In 2019, the best thing for a general manager's job security is to have the bossest prospects.

What will be the one big theme we remember this trade deadline for?

Olney: It turns out that the new trade deadline is something nobody likes. Some clubs are already griping that it should be pushed back to Aug. 15 because so many teams are on the fence about whether to be buyers or sellers.

Miller: Ambiguity and ambivalence. Over the past few weeks, many of the same teams have been rumored to be both buying and selling, caught between this year's goals and next year's, and spun dizzy by the jumbled crowdedness of the wild-card races.

Doolittle: Risk aversion. I really hope I'm wrong about this.

Passan: What the Mets did -- and didn't do.

Come Wednesday at 4:01 p.m. ET, will we have any idea what the Mets were doing this week?

Doolittle: Why would this week be any different from the past nine months or so? But it does look like they are getting a head start on their hot stove season, which given a thin free-agent class might not be the worst idea.

Passan: It's the Mets. Trying to forecast what they do is like trying to predict waves in the ocean.

Miller: You figured the Mets would be trying to compete in 2020, so trading for Stroman makes some sense: He's the free-agent starter they might have wanted to acquire this winter, but without the long-term commitment. It's surprising that they, and not a 2019 contender, would be willing to pay the most in prospects for Stroman's next 15 months, but on the other hand they didn't have to give up all that much.

Olney: Yes, absolutely. They are trying to win now. But we'll continue to debate how in the world they believe this ambition matches the collection of talent they possess.

Will the Yankees get a starter before the deadline?

Miller: I doubt it. Put it this way: If James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka or Domingo German were on this trade market, they'd be at least as in-demand as Robbie Ray, Bumgarner or Stroman. Even Syndergaard has a worse-than-average ERA this year; if he were already in the Yankees' rotation, we'd be asking whether the Yankees should be worried about him and whether that worry demands a trade. Given how strong their top five relievers are, you can already jot down zeros (and ever-so-occasional ones) for around half of their postseason innings, and asking the existing rotation to throw three or four innings per start in October seems safe.

Olney: Yes, because no GM is under greater pressure to make a deal than Brian Cashman. He'll get Ray, Trevor Bauer or some other starter.

Passan: Yes, though it won't be the front-line sort they would like to start Game 1 of the Division Series.

Doolittle: Sure, they'll get someone. I don't know if it'll be in the Bauer-Syndergaard-Bumgarner class. The Yanks would match up well with Arizona in a Zack Greinke deal, but there's a no-trade clause to work around, and I suspect Greinke would view the Bombers as too inconvenient. Given my skepticism about getting some splashy moves, I think we're looking at Mike Minor or Tanner Roark, someone on that level.

Which reliever are the Dodgers most likely to land to boost their bullpen?

Passan: With Ken Giles injured, the Dodgers could pursue Edwin Diaz, Kirby Yates or Felipe Vazquez to provide a lethal bridge -- or perfect complement -- to Kenley Jansen in the ninth.

Miller: The Dodgers have been ramping up their deadline activity by, say, 15% with each passing October defeat: They did nothing in 2014, got Mat Latos in 2015, Rich Hill and Josh Reddick in 2016, Yu Darvish in 2017 and Manny Machado in 2018. There's no 15% better than Machado on the trade market this year, but let's presume they'll get the best reliever available. That's Felipe Vazquez.

Doolittle: I've loved the idea of Vazquez for the Dodgers for weeks, and even now that they've turned the catching duties over to Will Smith, they could still dangle Keibert Ruiz if the Pirates can be moved. But if that isn't workable, then maybe L.A. can work the Mets for a Zack Wheeler-Diaz combo platter.

Olney: If the Rays or Red Sox don't outbid L.A., the Dodgers will get Edwin Diaz.

Are the Red Sox done dealing or do they have another move left to make?

Olney: They are aggressively chasing bullpen help and would love to have Diaz -- but they don't match up very well with the win-now Mets because their best prospects are not major-league-ready. On paper, the best possible match for the Mets and Red Sox in a Diaz deal might be Andrew Benintendi, who could play center field for the Mets -- and if Boston does this, it would solve its closer issue for the foreseeable future.

Miller: I think they'll get more relievers.

Passan: The Red Sox will add a bullpen arm. The quality depends on the willingness of teams with more assets to acquire the top-end arms.

Doolittle: They'll add more bullpen help, but I'm not sure how impactful it will be because it's such a seller's market when it comes relievers and the Red Sox don't have a ton of organizational depth from which to deal.

What about the Astros?

Passan: They're highly motivated to land a starting pitcher, and I think they will.

Miller: Should be looking at starting pitching. They're in an enviable position of needing only rotation depth, not a Game 1 or 2 (or 3!) starter at this point.

Olney: Some rival executives believe the Astros will wind up with Wheeler, because he's the type of pitcher they covet, and because GM Jeff Luhnow is loath to pay the high prices required for the likes of Syndergaard.

Doolittle: I don't see how they don't come away with a midrotation starter, whether it's Wheeler or Matthew Boyd or possibly Ray.

Of the other division leaders, which are we most likely to see make a splash before the deadline: Minnesota, Atlanta, Chicago or St. Louis?

Miller: The Twins have the most to gain. The other three front offices are led by men who have made some huge trade splashes in the recent past. But I'll say the Twins, who must be hearing footsteps behind them and be terrified of wasting a season as great as this one.

Olney: Atlanta is working hard to upgrade its bullpen and has been in the Diaz conversations.

Doolittle: I think all of those clubs will add something, but the Twins' need for pitching depth is probably the most glaring need and thus will make for the splashiest deal, relative to the overall tepid tenor of this year's market. Going hard after someone like Kirby Yates makes all kinds of sense for Minnesota.

Passan: All four are looking for pitching, and while all four may deal for some, the finite number of difference-making arms will differentiate the deadline success for each.

Which rumored potential seller that is still in contention is most likely to do something big before the deadline: San Francisco, Cleveland or Arizona?

Miller: Arizona. The Diamondbacks have been at exactly .500 23 times this season, and they know that's not going to get them there.

Olney: Other teams say the Diamondbacks are going to be among the most aggressive sellers. My guess is that the Indians trade Bauer to cash in on his value, getting major league-ready talent in return, and then add a lesser depth starter (like the Reds' Roark) to plug the Bauer hole in their rotation as they wait for the return of Corey Kluber.

Doolittle: I could see the Giants and Indians adding on the margins but not doing anything splashy, whether it's with incoming or outgoing players. For San Francisco, letting its veterans play this one out would be the splash move, while the Indians just aren't likely to add payroll. Arizona can try to move Ray or even Greinke without totally punting on its chances to eke into the playoffs, so insofar as anyone will do something big, I'd peg the D-backs as most likely.

Passan: Arizona is the clear choice here. The Diamondbacks are selling, and they could wind up the busiest team on July 30 and 31.

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Hockey Hall of Famer Denis Potvin has announced his retirement as a television broadcaster for the Florida Panthers.

Potvin, a former captain for the New York Islanders, was part of the Panthers' first broadcast team in 1993-94 and spent 21 seasons as their TV analyst.

Potvin, 65, was the first overall pick of the 1973 draft and a cornerstone of the Islanders' four Stanley Cup championship teams from 1979-80 to 1982-83. He ranks second in playoff goals among NHL defensemen with 56.

Terrence Boyd has joined German third division side Hallescher FC after mutually parting ways with Major League Soccer's Toronto FC on Monday.

Boyd, 28, signed with Toronto in February and played in 13 games across all competitions.

Boyd has 14 caps for the United States national team, with the last one coming in 2016.

Born in Germany, Boyd has spent most of his professional career in his native country. Before signing with Toronto in February, Boyd played with SV Darmstadt 98, who were regulated from the top-level Bundesliga to Germany's second tier during his time with the team.

According to the Toronto Sun, Boyd wanted to return to Germany due to his struggles in the MLS and the upcoming birth of his second child. Boyd and Toronto FC reportedly worked on an agreement for about a week.

Boyd has not scored a goal in a competitive game since March 2018.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- MLS All-Star coach James O'Connor doesn't expect the war of words between two of the league's biggest stars in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Carlos Vela to spill over into the North American team's friendly match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.

Less than two weeks ago, Ibrahimovic told ESPN's Ahora o Nunca that he is "by far" superior to Vela, despite the Mexico international leading the league in goal scoring -- six ahead of the Swede. After scoring a hat trick in the LA Galaxy's 3-2 win over Vela's LAFC just three days after his first shot across Vela's bow, Ibrahimovic followed up, saying it was a mistake for anyone to compare the two players.

But O'Connor says that the two are professionals, and he expects the pair to be "fine" as they take on Atletico's newly reconstructed back line.

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"Not really any impact, to be honest with you," he said in a news conference on Monday when asked about how the exchange of words between Ibrahimovic and Vela could affect his All-Star team. "I think they're both very professional lads, I don't see anything being an issue, so I think everything will be fine.

"I think both players, and all the guys, are just really excited and just looking forward to the game on Wednesday night."

What's occupying more of O'Connor's brain space is an issue every All-Star manager is tasked with: building a cohesive team and implementing a tactical structure in just four hours' worth of training sessions. The All-Stars trained together for the first time on Monday, and will do so just once more on Wednesday, before taking on an Atletico side that have been La Liga runners-up the past two seasons and lifted the Europa League barely 12 months ago.

But amid the friendly nature of the All-Star Game, O'Connor is more concerned with his players building relationships with one another and enjoying their experience in Orlando rather than carrying out a tactical plan to upset one of Europe's most talented sides.

"Well I think obviously we have a very short period of time to try to get to know the players," he said. "Obviously we've seen all the players play for their clubs, but I think it's different to get a personal understanding.

"So I think the biggest thing that we try to foster is just to encourage all the guys to try to get to know each other, especially the players who are coming on their own and perhaps don't know as many people. Just to try to create a friendly atmosphere, make sure that the players create that relationship, have a little fun in training."

The All-Stars will get another opportunity to do that in Tuesday's 90-minute session, but that evening's skills competition (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+) could be their best chance yet to really let their hair down before Wednesday's encounter with Atletico.

U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro contended Monday that analysis of federation finances showed that it paid members of the women's national team millions of dollars more than members of the men's national team over a period of nearly a decade.

Responding publicly for the first time to weeks of public and even congressional criticism since the U.S. won the Women's World Cup while national team players are in the midst of suing the federation for gender discrimination, Cordeiro sent an open letter to federation members that included the results of what he termed extensive analysis of 10 years of financial data.

Among the conclusions, which U.S. Soccer said were verified by an independent accounting firm, are that women's players were paid $34.1 million by the federation from 2010 to 2018 in salaries and bonuses (2018 the most recent fiscal year for which information was available). That also includes the National Women's Soccer League salaries paid by U.S. Soccer for national team-contracted players. Members of the men's national team were paid $26.4 million by the federation over the same period, the analysis concluded.

"Just as our WNT players have shared their perspective, I strongly believe that you -- as U.S. Soccer members, stakeholders, sponsors and partners -- deserve to hear ours," Cordeiro wrote Monday. "Now that the Women's World Cup is behind us, a common understanding of key facts will also help advance our shared work to grow women's soccer in America as well as the larger national discussion about equality."

The men's and women's teams operate with separate collective bargaining agreements and with separate pay structures.

Cordeiro's letter stipulated that the totals do not include money received by U.S. Soccer from FIFA for World Cup bonuses. With that money included, federation analysis said that the men earned $41 million for the same nine-year period, compared to $39.7 million for the women.

U.S. Soccer contends that it should not be held responsible for the inequity in FIFA prize money, with the winner of the men's tournament in Russia last year receiving more ($38 million) than the total prize pool for the 24 teams in the recently concluded women's tournament. Cordeiro said he continues to push FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the sport's global governing body to increase prize compensation for the signature event in the women's game.

As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, U.S. Soccer and lawyers representing the 28 players who filed suit in March have agreed to mediation. Cordeiro said he chose this time to commission and release the financial analysis because the federation did not want to disrupt the team's preparation for and participation in the Women's World Cup.

"This is a sad attempt by the USSF to quell the overwhelming tide of support the USWNT has received from everyone from fans to sponsors to the United States Congress," Molly Levinson, a spokesperson for the players, said in response to the letter. "The USSF has repeatedly admitted that it does not pay the women equally and that it does not believe the women even deserve to be paid equally. This is why they use words like 'fair' and 'equitable,' not 'equal,' in describing pay.

"The numbers the USSF uses are utterly false, which, among other things, inappropriately include the NWSL salaries of the players to inflate the women's players' compensation. Any apples-to-apples comparison shows that the men earn far more than the women."

While broadcasting and sponsorship revenue doesn't differentiate between the men's and women's teams, U.S. Soccer also pointed to ticket revenues as evidence in its favor.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that women's game produced more total revenue than men's games in the three years after the U.S. won the 2015 Women's World Cup. U.S. Soccer countered Monday that from 2009 to 2019, the women's game produced a net loss -- ticket sales minus expenses -- of $27,544,953 compared to $3,130,980 for the men over the same period.

U.S. Soccer has faced significant public criticism for its stance on pay in the wake of the Women's World Cup, beginning with large numbers of fans in the stadium in Lyon, France, chanting "equal pay" minutes after the final against the Netherlands. A week after the final, Procter & Gamble, an official sponsor of U.S. Soccer, took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times in support of the players and pledged more than $500,000 to the players association.

Congress has also weighed in to support the players in recent weeks.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., introduced a bill earlier this month that would deny federal funds for the 2026 Men's World Cup, to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, until the American federation agrees to pay its men's and women's teams equally. Last week, Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., introduced a similar bill in the House.

"The USSF fact sheet is not a 'clarification.' It is a ruse," Levinson said. "Here is what they cannot deny: For every game a man plays on the MNT, he makes a higher base salary payment than a woman on the WNT. For every comparable win or tie, his bonus is higher. That is the very definition of gender discrimination. For the USSF to believe otherwise is disheartening, but it only increases our determination to obtain true equal pay. If the USSF cannot agree to this at the upcoming mediation, we will see them in the court of law and the court of public opinion."

The U.S. women play their first game since the World Cup on Saturday against Ireland in the Rose Bowl, site of the famous 1999 World Cup final that cemented the team's place in the mainstream sporting consciousness.

U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro contended Monday that analysis of federation finances showed that it paid members of the women's national team millions of dollars more than members of the men's national team over a period of nearly a decade.

Responding publicly for the first time to weeks of public and even congressional criticism since the U.S. won the Women's World Cup while national team players are in the midst of suing the federation for gender discrimination, Cordeiro sent an open letter to federation members that included the results of what he termed extensive analysis of 10 years of financial data.

Among the conclusions, which U.S. Soccer said were verified by an independent accounting firm, are that women's players were paid $34.1 million by the federation from 2010 to 2018 in salaries and bonuses (2018 the most recent fiscal year for which information was available). That also includes the National Women's Soccer League salaries paid by U.S. Soccer for national team-contracted players. Members of the men's national team were paid $26.4 million by the federation over the same period, the analysis concluded.

"Just as our WNT players have shared their perspective, I strongly believe that you -- as U.S. Soccer members, stakeholders, sponsors and partners -- deserve to hear ours," Cordeiro wrote Monday. "Now that the Women's World Cup is behind us, a common understanding of key facts will also help advance our shared work to grow women's soccer in America as well as the larger national discussion about equality."

The men's and women's teams operate with separate collective bargaining agreements and with separate pay structures.

Cordeiro's letter stipulated that the totals do not include money received by U.S. Soccer from FIFA for World Cup bonuses. With that money included, federation analysis said that the men earned $41 million for the same nine-year period, compared to $39.7 million for the women.

U.S. Soccer contends that it should not be held responsible for the inequity in FIFA prize money, with the winner of the men's tournament in Russia last year receiving more ($38 million) than the total prize pool for the 24 teams in the recently concluded women's tournament. Cordeiro said he continues to push FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the sport's global governing body to increase prize compensation for the signature event in the women's game.

As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, U.S. Soccer and lawyers representing the 28 players who filed suit in March have agreed to mediation. Cordeiro said he chose this time to commission and release the financial analysis because the federation did not want to disrupt the team's preparation for and participation in the Women's World Cup.

"This is a sad attempt by the USSF to quell the overwhelming tide of support the USWNT has received from everyone from fans to sponsors to the United States Congress," Molly Levinson, a spokesperson for the players, said in response to the letter. "The USSF has repeatedly admitted that it does not pay the women equally and that it does not believe the women even deserve to be paid equally. This is why they use words like 'fair' and 'equitable,' not 'equal,' in describing pay.

"The numbers the USSF uses are utterly false, which, among other things, inappropriately include the NWSL salaries of the players to inflate the women's players' compensation. Any apples-to-apples comparison shows that the men earn far more than the women."

While broadcasting and sponsorship revenue doesn't differentiate between the men's and women's teams, U.S. Soccer also pointed to ticket revenues as evidence in its favor.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that women's game produced more total revenue than men's games in the three years after the U.S. won the 2015 Women's World Cup. U.S. Soccer countered Monday that from 2009 to 2019, the women's game produced a net loss -- ticket sales minus expenses -- of $27,544,953 compared to $3,130,980 for the men over the same period.

U.S. Soccer has faced significant public criticism for its stance on pay in the wake of the Women's World Cup, beginning with large numbers of fans in the stadium in Lyon, France, chanting "equal pay" minutes after the final against the Netherlands. A week after the final, Procter & Gamble, an official sponsor of U.S. Soccer, took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times in support of the players and pledged more than $500,000 to the players association.

Congress has also weighed in to support the players in recent weeks.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., introduced a bill earlier this month that would deny federal funds for the 2026 Men's World Cup, to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, until the American federation agrees to pay its men's and women's teams equally. Last week, Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., introduced a similar bill in the House.

"The USSF fact sheet is not a 'clarification.' It is a ruse," Levinson said. "Here is what they cannot deny: For every game a man plays on the MNT, he makes a higher base salary payment than a woman on the WNT. For every comparable win or tie, his bonus is higher. That is the very definition of gender discrimination. For the USSF to believe otherwise is disheartening, but it only increases our determination to obtain true equal pay. If the USSF cannot agree to this at the upcoming mediation, we will see them in the court of law and the court of public opinion."

The U.S. women play their first game since the World Cup on Saturday against Ireland in the Rose Bowl, site of the famous 1999 World Cup final that cemented the team's place in the mainstream sporting consciousness.

METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton says Zion Williamson's athleticism and physical stature would make the New Orleans Pelicans rookie and top NBA draft choice an intriguing NFL prospect at a handful of positions, starting with the defensive line or tight end.

But Williamson is making a case for quarterback as well, albeit in good fun.

The NFL's Saints and NBA's Pelicans are both owned by Gayle Benson, and their training headquarters are on the same campus. So the Saints have invited the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson to watch their training camp practices, and on Monday included him in a quarterback challenge starter Drew Brees regularly organizes with Saints reserve QBs.

The latest challenge involved throwing a football through a basketball hoop. Williamson nearly did so from about 50 yards away.

In an interview on SiriusXM, Payton joked that the Saints thought about using a seventh-round draft choice on Williamson "in case there was a problem across the parking lot."

Payton said if he surveyed his staff on who would like a chance to develop Williamson, "there'd be five position coaches with their hands up right now, starting with the defensive line coach, the tight end coach."

"He's a tremendous prospect," Payton added. "I know they're excited and thrilled to have him here and we're excited for the Pelicans because, look, we are separated by a parking lot, and this winning culture is somewhat contagious."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Toronto Blue Jays have called up top prospect Bo Bichette about two hours before first pitch against the Kansas City Royals on Monday night as they continued with sweeping changes to their big league roster.

The move came one day after Toronto shipped pitcher Marcus Stroman to the New York Mets for two pitching prospects and sent infielder Eric Sogard to the Tampa Bay Rays for a pair of players to be named later.

Bichette, the son of former major league outfielder Dante Bichette, is the third legacy player to join the Blue Jays' roster. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (son of Vladimir Sr.) and Cavan Biggio (son of Craig) arrived with the club earlier this season.

Bichette was playing shortstop and batting sixth for the series opener in Kansas City.

NEW YORK -- Marcus Stroman vows not to be one of those pitchers crushed by the pressure of pitching in New York -- after all, he's a native.

A 28-year-old All-Star right-hander who grew up in Medford on Long Island, Stroman was acquired by the Mets from the Toronto Blue Jays and hopes to debut for his new team on Friday at Pittsburgh as he fills a rotation slot vacated when Jason Vargas was dealt to Philadelphia.

"Oh, I think I'm ready for it. I mean, I think my personality kind of has shown that over the years, kind of never shy away from the bright lights," Stroman said Monday, a day after the trade was announced. "I get excited in the big moments, and I feel like I'm able to really kind of lock in. So I know that New York is obsessed with winning, and that's how I am. So I'm excited to kind of have that pressure behind me each and every start. I kind of enjoy that. I don't think the pressure behind it should faze me at all."

Stroman is 6-11 in 21 starts despite a 2.96 ERA that was fifth-best in the American League. He grew up near Mets starter Steven Matz, about 50 miles from Citi Field, and Stroman's family was excited by the trade.

"I'm going to be able to play baseball in kind of my backyard. They're going to be able to come watch me pitch every game," Stroman said. "I didn't actually grow up a Met fan -- I grew up a New York fan. I used to go watch Mets games as well as Yankee games. I actually played at Shea Stadium with my travel team when I was younger."

Barring more deals before Wednesday's trade deadline, he joins a rotation that includes National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler and Matz -- a former high school rival and travel ball teammate. Stroman is eligible for arbitration next winter and can become a free agent after the 2020 season, and Toronto held only cursory talks over a long-term contract.

After Stroman was informed of the trade Sunday, he had a heated conversation with officials of the Blue Jays organization. That led to speculation he was unhappy with the swap. Toronto took the unusual step of keeping its clubhouse closed to media.

"The commotion was in a discussion that I had with some of our coaches, some of the higher-ups in our org, kind of just like an exit meeting," Stroman said. "I was just kind of voicing my opinion and I didn't like how a couple of things were handled along the process."

New York is 50-55 and started Monday six games back in the NL wild-card race, with six teams ahead for the two spots. Stroman denied he was disappointed he was not dealt to a team closer to a playoff berth.

"I knew that I could kind of be shopped anywhere," he said. "It all hit me kind of quick, and once I kind of settled and I talked to my family, the excitement kind of all settled in."

Neither Stroman nor Toronto general manager Ross Atkins would disclose details.

"This city and country is very important to him. This organization was very important to him," Atkins said. "So it was very emotional."

Stroman is 47-45 with a 3.76 ERA in six big league seasons. The 5-foot-7 pitcher often is animated, which he thinks New York fans will appreciate.

"My energy is extremely authentic," he said. "When I'm between those lines, it's kind of a different savage, a different demon that kind of is out there -- kind of go to a dark place to kind of put myself where I need to be, and I'm very passionate, very emotional. But away from the field I'm very relaxed and I'm kind of the opposite."

Toronto received 24-year-old left-hander Anthony Kay and 18-year-old righty Simeon Woods Richardson. As part of the swap, the Mets get $1.5 million from the Blue Jays to offset much of the $2,506,452 remaining on Stroman's $7.4 million salary this year.

Atkins said rebuilding Toronto narrowed eight-plus teams down to four in trade talks and did not have a firm offer until Sunday. His goal is to assemble a young roster around Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio and Bo Bichette, a trio of sons of former big league stars. Bichette who was brought up from the minor leagues on Monday.

"It clearly doesn't make our current roster better," Atkins said. "Understandable that fans will be disappointed in not having Marcus Stroman and that absolute real asset today that we know can perform and make massive differences and wins and losses."