To everyone’s surprise, New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman remains with the team. This after speculation that he would be traded first to the Atlanta Braves and then to the St. Louis Cardinals. Stroman is owed $18.3 million for the 2025 season, with a vesting option worth the same amount in 2026.
In particular, the trade with the Cardinals would have been the most logical because St.Louis is in great need of rotational help, and the Yankees, with Jazz Chisholm’s move to second base, are in the market for a third baseman. In turn, the Cardinals’ third baseman Nolan Arenado has expressed his desire to leave St. Louis.
Stroman Disappointing in 2024
Stroman had an underwhelming season for the Yankees in 2024. He went 10-9, with an ERA of 4.31 and a ballooning WHIP of 1.47. He did not appear in the Yankees’ 14-game playoff run on their way to a 4–1 series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. He pitched horribly at Yankee Stadium last season, as he posted a 5.31 ERA at home as opposed to a road mark of 3.09.
His best season in the majors was in 2017 when he pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA and 164 strikeouts in 201.0 innings. And while Stroman may no longer be a top-of-the-rotation guy, he could fit very nicely into the third or fourth spot in some team’s starting staff.
Yankees Situation
Trading Stroman still makes the most sense, as the Yankees could shred part or all of his salary and possibly pick up a player to complete their infield. If and when Stroman leaves, the Bronx Bombers still host a rotation of Gerrit Cole, the newly acquired Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, and youngsters Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gill.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said this about the situation. The situation is what it is. We have a lot of guys that you would expect to be starting pitchers in the big leagues, with Marcus being one of those. Saw him today. Had a good conversation with him. I feel like he’s in a good mental place. He’s physically ready to go. The bottom line is, we’re getting him ready to pitch.”
What’s Next
This is still a fluid situation, as the Yankees have a bloated starting rotation and a defined need at third. Keep an eye on this situation as spring training rolls on. Unless a Yankee starter goes down with a serious injury, it’s hard to imagine New York continuing to pay for such an expensive sixth starter.
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