In January 2024, Marcus Stroman was the New York Yankees‘ biggest free agent signing of the month
Unlike a year ago, January 2025 came and went without the Bronx team signing anyone to a Major League contract, and while part of that is due to a slower-moving free agent market for the areas the Yankees need to address, it could also have to do with the fact that they have not found a team to take Stroman and part of his salary off their hands, The Post reported.
The right-hander is currently projected as the sixth starter in the rotation, and while the Yankees are always trying to make sure they have enough pitchers, Stroman’s $18 million salary is a hefty price tag, as it sits just above the highest luxury tax threshold ($301 million), and Cot’s Contracts estimated they would rise to $302.9 million.
The Yankees still have some holes to fill before pitchers and catchers report to Tampa on February 11, but it remains to be seen if they will be able to find a home for Stroman before then.
And while it would only take a spring training injury to a member of the Yankees rotation for Stroman to return to the clubhouse, an injury elsewhere could potentially open the door for a trade partner to emerge
Stroman’s numbers in 2024
The 33-year-old is coming off a season in which he posted a 4.31 ERA in 154 2/3 innings, including a 3.15 ERA in his first 16 starts before pitching to a 5.97 ERA in his last 14 outings, a span in which opposing hitters batted .341 with an .867 OPS.
The Yankees moved Stroman to the bullpen in September before leaving him off the ALDS roster. He was on the ALCS and World Series rosters as a reliever, but did not appear in any games
As things stand, the market for Stroman seems limited, especially with players such as Jack Flaherty, Nick Pivetta, Kyle Gibson, Jose Quintana, Andrew Heaney and Lance Lynn still available in free agency, and potentially Dylan Cease through a trade.
To complicate matters, Stroman has an $18 million option for 2026, which would be triggered if he pitches at least 140 innings this year.
A team with a young rotation that needs a veteran to eat up some innings would seem to be the best fit for Stroman, but the Yankees may have to cover a good portion of his salary for that to happen.
A swap for another bad contract could also make sense if it helps address one of the Yankees’ needs, and there are three possible landing spots for the pitcher that could be the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins.