Let’s have a chill chat about the Yankees’ big move, dealing the $37 million veteran Marcus Stroman. Picture this: It’s February 2, 2025. You’re scanning through your sports news, and all your usual tabs open – NFL, NBA, College Football, you name it. But right now, you’re all about that MLB life, specifically, the New York Yankees. Out of all the MLB teams, your eyes are glued to them. Why? Well, Marcus Stroman, the veteran right-handed pitcher, hasn’t unfollowed the team on social media just yet, and you’ve heard all the trade rumors swirling around since the offseason.
Trade Options
Trade packages, roster holes, you’ve heard it all. Right now, seeing Stroman still in that pinstripe uniform might feel like a grand slam of a failure for the front office. But hey, don’t sweat it. They still have their ace in the hole. The best chance to trade Stroman is yet to come.
See, Stroman’s contract, sitting pretty at $18.5 million for this season with the same amount vesting in option for 2026, is a little hard to pitch right now. The Yankees brass know they’ve got to fork over a good chunk of that dough to make this move happen. They’ve got to send off a prized prospect as a sweetener to close the deal. And even with those incentives, landing a major league third baseman or a left-handed reliever feels like trying to catch a curveball with your bare hand.
The St. Louis Cardinals turned down a deal with Stroman that would’ve handed the Yankees Nolan Arenado on a silver platter. With a surplus of infielders, the Cincinnati Reds have been tipped as potential trade partners. Then there’s the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Atlanta Braves, and a shot at reclaiming Josh Smith from the Texas Rangers. It’s been a wild ride. But the best trade partner for Stroman is yet to be discovered. So, what’s the game plan? Even if it feels a little awkward, the Yankees’ best play is to bring Stroman to spring training, act like he’s the MVP player, and then deal him to whichever team loses a starting pitcher to an injury in spring training.
Final Thoughts
The Yankees have brought in a lot of firepower this offseason, and I like what they are doing. Stroman being on the team isn’t the end of the world. We get to see Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Max Fried all in pinstripes this year. Everyone knows the Yankees are itching to lighten their salary load, and it looks like Stroman will be the first to go. The free-agent market’s teeming with potential starters, and the trade market’s holding its breath, waiting for the Padres to move Dylan Cease or Michael King. So right now, the Yankees’ leverage in a trade is thinner than a rookie’s batting average.
Just wait it out, and the Yankees could turn the game around. The best move for the Yankees right now? Patience, my friend, patience.
