There seems something wrong between Marcus Stroman and the Yankees. The pitcher who joined the team last year might be moving away, at least his social media activities say so. Well, the Yankees are skimming off their 2024 team and fielding a true-blue contending team this year and his uncertainty to fit the new roster might be the root of all causes! For the unversed, fans are left wondering when Stroman unfollowed the Yankees from different social media handles. And why so?

Stroman didn’t have a good season to boast about last year, which makes it uncertain for him to make it into the final rotation. Well, the Yankees have a deep pitching squad, and with pitchers like Garret Cole, Max Fried, and a few young rookies, so it is difficult for Stroman to make it into the starting squad. So what lies ahead for Stroman with or without the Yankees? 

The Yankees’ planning with Stroman

Now with Marcus Stroman unfollowing the Yankees, what the team is thinking about him? There are no official disclosures about their unwillingness to move away from Stroman yet. However, the last year’s stats are not on Stroman’s side where he ended 2024 with a 4.31 ERA across 154 innings that left him out of action in the postseason. Hence, Stroman was out of the starting squad last year only and this year, it will take an injury from the starting squad to let Stroman cut. So, is there a chance left for Stroman to pitch this year with the Yankees?

Yes, the Yankees GM Aaron Boone thinks so. During a podcast with the MLB insiders Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman this week, Boone outright downplayed Stroman’s move. “The unfollow though was like a standard scrub that he does that was very coincidental”, said Boone about Marcus Stroman. He seems unaffected by Stroman’s move and is confident about making Stroman ready for 2025. Stroman can still prove to be a viable option as an injury replacement but Boone’s “coincidental” comment rightly indicates that Stroman does not like to not be in the starting squad. So what other options are left for Marcus Stroman?

What lies ahead?

There are multiple reasons for the Yankees’ willingness to trade Marcus Stroman. He is set to make $18 million this season and moving away from him will offer a financial cushion for the Yankees to avoid the luxury tax. Currently, the Yankees are over $4 million above the luxury tax threshold, and freeing $18 million from Stroman will save them a huge. Considering the performance, Stroman offered last year, the Yankees will not be at any loss trading him. In that case, Marcus Stroman can only hope for a team where he can make it to the starting squad. 

Getting into the starting rotation can be a win-win situation for Stroman to part away from the Yankees only if he is released. The Yankees GM is confident enough to keep him. “The biggest thing right now is making sure we’re getting Marcus ready to roll,” Boone said, “and hopefully play a big role for us.” It seems Stroman is well in the plan for the Yankees and they are making him ready to get behind any injured pitcher. Considering the long and grueling season ahead, Stroman is just about to make a cut and his performance will be effective to fetch him a good deal once he hits free agency post-2025. 

Boone’s ignorance of Stroman’s angry move and keeping faith in him shows the probability that he is staying with the Yankees this season. It’s now on Stroman to let his pitch do the talking now to prove his worth. 

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