THE Yankees seem eager to move right Marcus Stroman this offseason, but the veteran pitcher’s contract is problematic.
New York wants to settle the money owed to Stroman and use it to acquire another infielder and “not particularly expensive.” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported Saturdayciting sources informed of the club’s plans.
The Yankees still have an open question at third base and second base, but have internal options at both spots if a move doesn’t happen.
However, there is a player option for the 2026 season in Stroman’s contract that likely hampers his value on the trade market.
If the right-hander pitches 140 innings this season, Stroman’s option kicks in and he would owe $18 million for the 2026 season.
Stroman, 34, pitched 154.2 innings in his first year with the Yanks, eclipsing the 136.2 innings and 138.2 innings he pitched in the previous two seasons in Chicago.
But, unlike his time with the Cubs, his effectiveness declined significantly as he had a 4.31 ERA (4.62 FIP) with a 1.468 WHIP over 29 starts (with one appearance out of the bullpen ). Stroman pitched to a 3.50 and 3.95 ERA in his first two seasons on the North Side and was an All-Star in 2023 before his form stabilized in the second half of the season.
In addition to seeing his strikeouts per nine decline and hits per nine innings increase last year, the ground ball specialist had the lowest ground ball rate of his career, 49.9 percent against 57.4 percent in 2023.
So the Yankees would likely have to help offset the $18 million owed to Stroman for this season due to his struggles with pinstripes as well as the possibility that he might be owed another $18 million next year if he achieves his innings goal.
And any team looking to add Stroman hopes he pitches more than 140 innings, even if it occasionally skips his starts, limits him to five innings per start or uses him out of the bullpen, noted the The Athletic report.
