After Marcus Stroman unfollowed the New York Yankees on social media and rumors swirled throughout the offseason, many assumed he wouldn’t report to George M. Steinbrenner Field this month. Given all the speculation about trade possibilities and the Yankees potentially using Stroman to address roster needs, his continued presence on the roster could be seen as a failure for the front office.
However, that’s far from the case. The Yankees’ best chance to trade Stroman is still ahead of them.
Right now, Stroman’s contract — worth $18.5 million this season with an $18.5 million vesting option for 2026 — makes him difficult to move. The Yankees would likely need to cover a significant portion of his salary and include a promising prospect to sweeten the deal. Even with those incentives, it’s unlikely they’d land a top-tier third baseman or left-handed reliever in return.
The St. Louis Cardinals already rejected a trade that would have sent Stroman to them in exchange for Nolan Arenado. The Cincinnati Reds, with their surplus of infielders, have been suggested as a potential trade partner. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves are also possibilities. Additionally, there’s the idea of a trade with the Texas Rangers to bring back Josh Smith, whom the Yankees sent to Texas for Joey Gallo in 2021.
However, the Yankees’ ideal trade partner for Stroman likely hasn’t realized they need him yet.
Though it might seem awkward, the Yankees’ best move right now is to bring Stroman to spring training, present him as an essential member of the staff, and wait for a team in need of a starter to make a move after a spring injury.
Currently, everyone knows the Yankees are eager to offload his salary. The free-agent market still has plenty of viable starters, and the trade market hinges on the Padres possibly dealing Dylan Cease or Michael King. The Yankees don’t have much leverage at the moment.
By being patient, the Yankees are in a better position to move Stroman when the right opportunity arises.
