One year after signing Marcus Stroman to provide depth in their rotation, the New York Yankees are now in a bind: What’s the best way to get rid of him?
Even if no Yankees officials will say so publicly, reports have indicated that the Yankees seek to clear themselves of Stroman’s salary, providing financial flexibility that could allow them to add a third baseman or second baseman. Stroman is owed $18 million in 2025, and he has an $18 million player option for 2026 if he reaches 140 innings next season. Clearly, the Yankees will have to include money in any deal they consummate.
Via ESPN on Thursday: One evaluator held up Martin Perez, recently signed by the White Sox for $5 million, as a market comparable; if the D-Backs and Yankees want to move (Jordan) Montgomery, Stroman, they may have to pay down their respective salaries closer to that range.
That would mean the Yankees pay down at least $13 million and maybe more account for what Stroman could earn in 2026.
The efforts to move Stroman make sense. The 33-year-old right-hander is sixth on the Yankees’ pitching depth chart, making him an expensive swingman as he’d likely start and pitch in long relief. He also was a below average pitcher in 2024, when he posted a 4.31 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 154 2/3 innings and did enter a game in the Yankees’ run to the World Series.
The question for any acquiring team might be, “Is Stroman salvageable?” Last year, FanGraphs said he was worth $8 million, but over the past three seasons, he was worth $27.7 million, $15.7 million and $21.3 million, respectively. Even if he’ll never replicate the best of those years, there’s reason to believe he won’t be as bad (95 ERA+) as he was with the Yankees and he could log decent innings.