The New York Yankees have been actively searching for a starting pitcher in the market in recent months. Their efforts faced a setback when they missed out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The prominent names in consideration have been free agents Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell, along with some potential trade options.
However, Marcus Stroman has recently become a noteworthy figure in discussions about a possible signing with the Yankees. According to a report by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Stroman expressed his interest in pitching for the Yankees, but General Manager Brian Cashman opted not to extend an offer. Despite this initial hesitation, mutual interest has been growing, and Jon Morosi of the MLB Network indicated on Wednesday morning that Stroman is now seen as the top candidate for the Yankees.
The Yankees Have Legit Intrest in Stroman
Apart from his polarizing personality, the 32-year-old right-handed pitcher remains a reliable asset with considerable value.
Throughout his last seven seasons on the field, he consistently pitched a minimum of 100 innings, including 136.2 in the recent season with the Chicago Cubs. There’s a noticeable decrease of 0.7 mph in his fastball velocity, which has been a consistent trend in recent years. Despite this, he maintained a 3.95 ERA, a 65.9% left-on base rate, and a 57.1% ground ball rate. Fortunately, his home runs per nine settled at 0.59, and he allowed 3.42 walks per nine. Given his propensity for ground balls and minimal home runs, he appears to be a suitable fit for Yankee Stadium. This is why Cashman opted against Shota Imanaga, who struggled with limiting homers, a potential issue as a lefty pitcher in the Bronx.
However, the Yankees would have to accept Stroman’s personality, especially if it doesn’t align with the fans. Yankee fans can be hostile, and any negative reactions from Stroman on social media could tarnish the team’s image. Nevertheless, if the Yankees perform well, Stroman could become a hero, as is often the case with the team.
It’s worth noting that Stroman’s performance has declined in recent seasons, but his ERA hasn’t dropped below 4.00 since 2018. Despite this, there’s still potential in his pitching, and he would be a cost-effective option compared to alternatives. A one-year deal might be sufficient for Cashman to acquire Stroman and leverage his skills to bolster their World Series aspirations in 2024.
However, Cashman should not view Stroman as the sole solution; the Yankees should actively pursue additional players through trades or invest in free agents. Stroman would be an addition to the team, not the headline move needed for success.