The issue between the Yankees and Marcus Stroman is nearing an end. While Stroman was reluctant to take a bullpen role, the Yankees were in no position to include the pitcher in their starting rotation. The issue went beyond control, and reportedly, the 33-year-old pitcher gave the first two spring games a miss. Well, fortunately and unfortunately, the Yankees lost their starting pitcher, Luis Gil, due to his shoulder injury, and unexpectedly, the door to the starting rotation opened for Stroman. However, is he the best bet for the team to replace Gil?

Marcus Stroman is now all set to join the starting rotation of the Yankees this year. If the current spring training season is a measure, Stroman is showing a good intent on the field. One of the pitchers who touched the mound was Marcus Stroman, who threw about 35 pitches in two innings. “I feel pretty sharp,” Stroman said. Also, he tossed a scoreless inning against the Rays this season. Seems like he is getting in shape after that low-key performance from the last year where he pitched to a 4.31 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 154 innings. Now it’s time for Stroman to prove his worth.

“Marcus Stroman now has the opportunity to go out there and prove a lot of people wrong,” said MLB insider Chris Gimenez to the MLB Network Radio. A popular opinion indeed. Marcus Stroman’s spring games performance showcased his ability, but he needs to prove his worth at the biggest stage coming his way. The fans will be excited enough to see how things unfold on the field. Nevertheless, with Stroman in the fold the Yankees could record a slight tweak to how they operate.

The Yankees’ rotation with Stroman

The projected starting rotation of the Yankees includes Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Max Fried, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt. Now, Stroman is taking the place of Gil. As a pitcher, Marcus Stroman has several benefits, such as his ability to ignite fans, his defensive prowess, and his underdog mindset. Stroman’s ability to be expressive after key strikeouts makes him a crowd favorite. Since making his debut in 2014, Stroman has produced more groundball outs than the majority of starting pitchers. Going against the star-studded sluggers of the Dodgers, Stroman’s groundballs would be a suitable weapon for the Bronx.

Leaving past all the noises about Stroman giving the training a miss and trading rumors, Gil’s injury made the impossible possible. The opportunity could not be more ripe for the Yankees to place Stroman in place of Gil. For those unversed, Stroman owes $18 million from the team this year, and getting the service of a 2x All-Star veteran with that money is a savvy deal. However, last year, Stroman was left off the 26-man roster owing to his downhill performance. Hopefully, this year his fortunes will turn out differently.

A decision about Stroman’s entry to the starting rotation will be made soon. It will be worth watching Stroman prove his critics wrong. What do you think about Stroman’s potential with the Yankees? Share your views with us.