Yankees Exploring Trade Options for Marcus Stroman Amid Deepened Rotation
The New York Yankees are actively exploring trade options for starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, according to recent reports. This comes after the Yankees secured a significant addition to their rotation with an eight-year deal for Max Fried, which has led to a surplus of starting pitchers. The team's pitching staff is now deeper than ever, featuring the likes of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, and the newly acquired Fried. Despite the trade of Nestor Cortes, who was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Devin Williams, the Yankees are still managing a group of six major league starters, and Stroman's future in New York is now uncertain.
At 34 years old, Stroman is entering the second year of a two-year, $37 million contract. His performance in 2024 was somewhat underwhelming, posting a 4.31 ERA over 154.2 innings. His strikeout rate was significantly lower than usual, at just 16.7%, and his ground-ball rate of 49.2% was also below his career average. His sinker velocity also dropped, averaging just 90 mph, compared to the 92 mph he maintained from 2019 to 2023. Left-handed hitters gave him trouble in particular, slashing .296/.372/.474 against him, and Stroman struggled with the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium, surrendering 15 of his 19 home runs there.
Also Read:- Eddie Howe's Nick Pope Injury Update and Its Impact on Martin Dubravka's Future at Newcastle United
- Police Evacuate Downtown New Westminster Amid Ongoing Courthouse Incident
The Yankees reportedly pitched a trade scenario involving Stroman for St. Louis Cardinals star Nolan Arenado, though the Cardinals rejected the idea. Despite his struggles, Stroman’s solid track record and consistent innings-eating ability should still generate some interest from other teams around the league. However, his contract's player option could complicate potential trade discussions. If Stroman pitches 140 innings in 2025, he would be eligible to trigger an $18 million player option for 2026, giving him the opportunity to lock in that salary regardless of how he performs.
With the Yankees already committing substantial financial resources to Cole, Fried, and Rodon, they are faced with a dilemma about paying Stroman’s $18 million salary for 2025 and potentially for 2026. The team is also dealing with luxury tax penalties, which could make moving Stroman an attractive option to save money. Even if Stroman does not reach his player option, moving his salary could save the Yankees significant amounts, especially as they are currently in the highest penalty bracket for luxury tax overages.
While Stroman's player option may give other teams pause, his contract is not unreasonably priced, especially in comparison to other aging pitchers like Alex Cobb and Charlie Morton, who have secured similar one-year deals. Stroman, on a one-year deal for $18 million, could still be an attractive trade target for teams in need of veteran pitching depth. It is likely that the Yankees will not fetch significant young talent in return, but they may be able to swap Stroman for another veteran pitcher or take on another team's bad contract while saving money on his salary.
With just a few weeks left before pitchers and catchers report for spring training, the Yankees still have time to find a suitable trade partner for Stroman. Although the market has been relatively slow, significant trades have been known to occur even after the start of spring training. For now, the Yankees are trying to determine whether it makes more sense to move Stroman and save money, or keep him in a rotation that already has significant depth heading into 2025.
Read More:
0 Comments