With his decision to unfollow the New York Yankees on social media and rumors swirling all offseason, most people did not expect Marcus Stroman to be among the pitchers reporting to George M. Steinbrenner field this month.
After months of speculation about trade packages and using Stroman as a chip to fill the Yankees’ roster holes, the fact that the veteran right-hander is still on the roster might seem like an offseason failure for the front office.
That’s hardly the case. The Yankees’ best chance to trade Stroman is still ahead of them.
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Stroman’s contract, which is $18.5 million this season and includes an $18.5 million vesting option for 2026, is prohibitive to move right now. The Yankees know they will have to pay down a significant chunk of that salary to make the move and include a valued prospect to sweeten the deal. Even with those incentives, they would unlikely land a top major league third baseman or left-handed reliever.
The St. Louis Cardinals already said no to a deal that would have given the Yankees Nolan Arenado, including Stroman. The Cincinnati Reds, because of their abundance of infielders, have been suggested as a good trade partner for the Yankees and Stroman. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves have also been suggested. A deal with the Texas Rangers, hoping that the Yankees could get back Josh Smith, who the Yankees sent to Texas for Joey Gallo in 2021.
But the Yankees’ best trade partner for Stroman hasn’t realized they need him – yet.
While some have said, it will be an awkward move, the Yankees’ best route right now is to bring him to spring training, play the “he is an important member of the staff” routine, and then wait to deal him to whichever team suffers an injury to a starting pitcher in spring training.
Right now, everyone knows the Yankees are eager to shed his salary. The free-agent market is still ripe with viable starters, and the trade market is waiting for the Padres to move Dylan Cease or Michael King. So, the Yankees have no leverage in a trade right now.
If they wait, the Yankees are in a better spot. If they want to move Stroman, the Yankees’ best move right now is patience.
