Despite signing Marcus Stroman to a two-year, $37 million deal last offseason, the Yankees’ investment in the pitcher has quickly soured. General manager Brian Cashman has been actively seeking a trade partner to offload Stroman’s contract, and even with Luis Gil out for several months, the Yankees may prefer to give rising prospect Will Warren a shot in the rotation.
Michael Kay of the YES Network recently added to the rumors, revealing that Stroman remains a trade candidate and isn’t guaranteed a rotation spot. He noted that the team holds Warren in high regard and is also keen on Carlos Carrasco, suggesting that the Yankees are still actively shopping Stroman.
When the Yankees initially signed Stroman, the expectation was that he would provide stability as a reliable innings-eater at the back end of the rotation. However, his declining velocity and struggles towards the end of the 2024 season raised doubts about his reliability.
Last year, Stroman posted a 4.31 ERA over 154.2 innings, but his strikeout rate dropped to 6.58 per nine innings, his lowest since 2018. Additionally, his ground-ball rate dipped to 49.2%, signaling that he was leaving more pitches in dangerous areas.
Adding to the complication is Stroman’s contract, which includes a player option for 2026 if he reaches 140 innings this season. This option could further reduce his trade value, and the Yankees are hesitant to be locked into paying an aging, declining pitcher in 2026, especially when they have promising internal options.
With Gil sidelined, the Yankees may keep Stroman in the rotation early in the season to eat innings. However, if another team shows interest, New York could look to move him and save approximately $6 million in salary, even if it means absorbing the remaining $12 million on his contract to facilitate the trade.
The emergence of Will Warren has made Stroman’s spot in the rotation even more uncertain. Warren, who has impressed this spring after making key mechanical adjustments, has showcased a dominant new sweeper and a deceptive changeup.
Over three spring appearances, he has posted a 1.13 ERA, striking out top hitters like Bryce Harper and Trea Turner. His fastball command has also significantly improved, and his ability to locate pitches at the top of the zone gives him a modern starter profile, with swing-and-miss potential and a versatile pitching arsenal.
- Will Warren
If the Yankees are committed to optimizing their rotation, Warren may simply be the better choice. His ceiling is higher than Stroman’s, and he fits more seamlessly into the team’s long-term plans. Given the Yankees’ focus on developing young talent and cutting unnecessary costs, it’s clear why they might hesitate to commit to Stroman in the rotation.
Cashman faces a tough decision. The Yankees need innings with Gil out, but they must also look beyond the short-term. If they believe Warren is ready to contribute now, they may not want to waste time with Stroman, whose best years appear to be behind him.
The team may use Stroman in the early weeks of the season to give him a chance to showcase his value, making him more tradable. But with Warren’s potential so high, it seems inevitable that he will eventually take over Stroman’s spot in the rotation.
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