Just over a year ago, Marcus Stroman was being heralded as a rotation stabilizer and a veteran voice for a Yankees pitching staff chasing October glory. Today, the narrative around the 34-year-old right-hander has shifted dramatically — from clubhouse leader to potential trade chip.
According to team sources and subtle signals from general manager Brian Cashman, the Yankees are preparing to offload Stroman in the coming weeks, taking advantage of a favorable market and a rare window to shed payroll without sacrificing competitive edge.
“You don’t just build with names,” Cashman said earlier this week when asked about trade deadline strategy. “You build with roles, flexibility, and fit.”
And by all accounts, Stroman no longer fits.
Rotation Rebound Without Him
Since going down with a knee injury in mid-April, Stroman has thrown just 9.1 innings over three starts. Though now nearing a return—he faced live hitters this past weekend for the first time in over a month—the Yankees have already found ways to thrive in his absence.
Ryan Yarbrough has delivered solid innings as a fill-in starter. Clarke Schmidt’s return has added balance. Even rookie Will Warren, despite a brutal outing against the Dodgers on May 31, has shown the kind of raw upside that the organization sees as worth nurturing.
All of this leaves the Yankees with a simple yet sobering question: Does Stroman still offer more than the alternatives?
If the answer is no—and internally, that appears to be the case—the next logical step is to recoup value while there’s still time.
The Dollars Tell the Story
Beyond performance concerns, the real incentive for a Stroman trade lies in the numbers. The righty is earning $18 million this season, a figure that weighs heavily as the Yankees aim to remain under the punitive “Steve Cohen Tax” luxury threshold.
Earlier this year, Stroman’s contract included a vesting option for 2026. But with the innings requirement (140 IP) now mathematically out of reach due to his IL stint, that clause is officially moot. Any team trading for him now would be acquiring a pure rental — no strings attached beyond 2025.
That makes Stroman exponentially more attractive on the trade market than he was even a month ago.
A Thin Market Plays to New York’s Advantage
This year’s crop of trade deadline arms is underwhelming. Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara has been ineffective in his return from Tommy John surgery. The Angels’ Tyler Anderson profiles more as a steady innings-eater than a difference-maker. The White Sox and Pirates are reluctant to part with young arms.
If Arizona falters in the next month, Zach Gallen or Merrill Kelly could become available, but there’s no guarantee. That leaves Stroman as one of the most proven right-handed starters likely to be moved — and the Yankees are betting that demand will outweigh the risk.
With several contenders — including the Mariners, Cardinals, Brewers, and Blue Jays — scrambling for reliable mid-rotation help, Cashman may have leverage he didn’t expect to have.
Strategic Reinvestment on the Horizon
The Yankees aren’t just looking to trim payroll. They’re aiming to reallocate it. Clearing Stroman’s $18 million from the books would give them the financial breathing room to aggressively pursue an upgrade at second base — a lingering weak spot in an otherwise potent lineup.
Rather than scraping the bargain bin for infield depth, Cashman could target a premium solution, perhaps even a controllable star, without crossing the tax threshold.
The result? A more complete, flexible roster positioned to weather the grind of the postseason — a luxury last year’s flawed Yankees team didn’t have.
Parting Ways, Professionally
There’s no sense of animosity. Stroman has handled his time in New York with professionalism and swagger, even if results have been mixed. His presence brought leadership to a young clubhouse, and his early-season fire helped set a tone.
But in the Bronx, sentiment rarely trumps strategy.
If the Yankees can strike a deal in the coming weeks, Stroman will exit not in disgrace, but as a necessary casualty of a front office that’s finally showing urgency — and clarity.
From ace to trade bait. That’s baseball. And in New York, that’s business.
What’s Next?
The Yankees are expected to begin exploring trade frameworks as soon as Stroman returns to action in mid-June. If he shows even modest form in a couple of starts, a deal could come together quickly. Teams to watch include:
-
St. Louis Cardinals – Looking for playoff-tested pitching in a weak NL Central.
-
Toronto Blue Jays – Familiar with Stroman, desperate for rotation help.
-
Milwaukee Brewers – Competitive, but lacking depth beyond their top three.
-
Seattle Mariners – Pitching-rich in theory, but in need of reliable consistency.
Stay tuned. The next time Marcus Stroman takes the mound, it may be in a different uniform — one traded not for what he is now, but for what his departure allows the Yankees to become.
