The Yankees are wrapping up the offseason, but not without some last-minute drama. Their roster moves have mostly been solid, but Marcus Stroman? He’s the wild card no one saw coming. The veteran pitcher has stirred things up—skipping spring training, cutting ties on social media, and sending shockwaves through the fanbase. Some are blasting him, others are blaming Yankees ownership, but one thing’s for sure—this saga is just getting started.

Yes, Hal Steinbrenner is blamed now for the Stroman saga and how the team has made a blunder looking to trade a guy who just joined a year ago. The team’s inefficiency in landing the right players with long-term objectives is said to be the core of all the issues the Yankees are facing now. However, what went wrong with Stroman this year when things were fine last year? Considering that the Yankees have failed to trade him, what are the ways forward for them this year?

Marcus Stroman saga is getting all wrong

The Yankees got all wrong with Marcus Stroman from the beginning, and this is a prime example of inefficient talent management. They made the first blunder by putting him in the bullpen last year after his 5.70 ERA since the start of June. Even if putting Stroman in the bullpen was a need of the hour at that time, he should have communicated about the team’s planning this year. The Yankees GM Aaron Boone planned Stroman for the bullpen while not putting him in the starting rotation. The situation went south from here, with Stroman ultimately declaring, “I won’t pitch in the bullpen, I’m a starter.” 

“By loudly telegraphic their intent to trade Stroman, and then failing to in advance of camp, the Yankees have shown themselves to be a far greater instigating distraction,” said MLB analyst ‘Yankees Slut’. The time when the team planned to trade Stroman away was in the middle of the offseason. However, the Yankees went to publicize their plans and ultimately ended up not getting any trading partners. “Shame on the front office, who lit $18M on fire for a total of 1 WAR”, further added. Stroman was taken for two years worth $37 million, and he owes $18 million this year. Now that the Yankees are looking to trade him, he just contributed with 1 WAR this past year and got $19 million. What a poor show of inefficiency by the Yankees!

Future projections 

Well, it seems the Stroman saga is going beyond control for the Yankees, and with Stroman publicly opined about not playing in the bullpen, what projections can the Yankees have? “Building him up to be a starting pitcher”, said Boone on the Yankees’ plan for Marcus Stroman. It seems that they are getting Stroman into their radar for starting pitch, but with plans to open the season with a five-man rotation of Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt, fans are left wondering about how to accommodate Stroman. 

Pitching a six-man rotation can be another option for the Yankees to go with Stroman. In this last minute of the offseason, it is very unlikely that the Yankees can find a trading partner. Thus, it would be better if a six-man rotation could be pitched with getting Stroman in. Fans can just hope that this issue gets solved at the earliest and that Stroman makes a strong comeback with the Yankees this year. Till then, it is just an injury from the starting squad that can place Stroman in his desired position. 

Undoubtedly, the Yankees could have managed Marcus Stroman better, and it’s better late than never. They still have time to sort out the issues and field the best rotation. 

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