The Yankees appear keen on moving veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman this offseason, but the veteran pitcher’s contract is an issue.
New York wants to clear the money owed to Stroman and use it to acquire another infielder and “not a particularly high-priced one,” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported Saturday, citing sources briefed on the club’s plans.
The Yanks still have an open question at third base and second, but have internal options at both spots should a move not come off.
However, there is a player option for the 2026 season in Stroman’s contract that is likely hampering his value on the trade market.
If the right-hander pitches 140 innings this season, Stroman’s option kicks in that would owe him $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 threw in the previous two seasons in Chicago.
But, unlike his time with the Cubs, his effectiveness took a big dip 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 leveled off in the season’s second half.
In addition to seeing his strikeouts per nine dip and his hits per nine innings jump last year, the groundball specialist had the lowest ground-ball rate of his career last year 49.9 percent down from 57.4 percent in 2023.
So, the Yankees would likely have to help out on offsetting the $18 million Stroman is owed for this season because of his struggles in pinstripes as well as the possibility of him being owed another $18 million the next year if he hits his innings mark.
And any team looking to add Stroman would hope he pitches over 140 innings, even if they skip his starts on occasion, limit him to five innings per start or use him out of the bullpen, The Athletic report noted.