The New York Yankees have been one of the most active teams this winter, and it sounds like they’re not done making moves.
Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees are “actively trying to deal starter Marcus Stroman and clear his $18 million salary.”
Stroman signed a two-year, $37 million contract with the Yankees last offseason that included a conditional player option for the 2026 season. The Long Island native was back in his home state after spending three years with the New York Mets from 2019 to 2021.
In his first year in Pinstripes, Stroman appeared in 30 games with 29 starts and went 9-10 with a 4.31 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP and 113 strikeouts in 154.2 innings pitched. It was his highest ERA since 2018 when he posted a career-worst 5.54 ERA as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Stroman’s struggles toward the end of the 2024 regular season caused him to be left off the Yankees’ 26-man roster for the ALDS. While he was added back to the roster for the ALCS, he didn’t make a postseason appearance before New York went on to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series in five games.
After losing star free-agent outfielder Juan Soto to the Mets, the Yankees pivoted by trading for closer Devin Williams and outfielder Cody Bellinger and signing starting pitcher Max Fried and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Nightengale noted that the Yankees “now are seeking a left-handed reliever and an infielder” and “have had talks with” free-agent lefty relief pitcher Andrew Chafin and infielder Brendan Rodgers.
Trading away Stroman could be the next step for the Yankees as they continue to reshape their roster in hopes of making another World Series run in 2025.