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Somehow Jansen misplayed what looked easy. Former Jay Gio Urshela slid home and Jansen, having all the time in the world, was late on the tag. Instead of giving up two earned runs, as Stroman should have, he was awarded three instead.

But big picture, he liked his outing and he likes the way he’s pitching and while the script that surrounds him — of trade deadline pitcher on the move annoys him — he felt great pitching Sunday afternoon.

“I truly believe I always get stronger in the second half,” said Stroman. When asked if he felt like he was auditioning here, he answered with the usual Stroman zip. “I have 800 innings now in the American League East. I would never consider one start an audition.”

When I asked him if he had proven to every team in the big leagues that he could help them, he shot back with a question of his own.

“Have I proved it to you?”

“You don’t have to prove it to me,” I countered.

“I feel great,” said Stroman. “I don’t have to prove myself. I have 800 innings in the AL East. I know I can compete with everybody out there. I can give myself the ball in any big time situation.”

His earned run average is 3.25. That’s better than any Yankees starter. That’s better than anyone on the World Series title holder, Boston Red Sox rotation. That’s better than all but seven pitchers in the American League.

The Blue Jays have a young group of players they are building around. They don’t, for a variety of reasons, want Stroman as part of that rebuild. They want to turn this asset into more assets.

Stroman won’t allow himself to think of the phone call he will eventually receive. “Hard to think of the future that way,” he said. “If I start to think of it that way it’s going to throw me off my game, mentally and physically.”

And when asked about being a good fit in New York or anywhere else, he answered: “I think I’m a good fit in this era as far as launch angle goes and guys putting the ball in the air.

“I have plenty of weapons,” he said, soon using those weapons will be put to work for another big league club.