So the New York teams are playing among themselves. First, it was the New York Mets who signed two former New York Yankees players. Now it’s the Pinstripes’ turn to target a former Mets player, and they’re going all in. While Marcus Stroman has already shown his willingness to play for the Bombers, present reports indicate that feeling might be mutual.

The Yankees’ need for a pitcher is profound, and they may have found an exceptional hand here. But the team is also linked to Blake Snell. So does this mean the Snell links are getting weaker?

Marcus Stroman becomes the favorite of the New York Yankees

The links between Marcus Stroman and the Yankees have gradually grown. While initial reports indicated that the Bronx Squad was not interested in the pitcher, things have taken a rather quick turn. Now MLB Network’s Jon Morosi has revealed that not only is Stroman a favorite, but he’s ahead of Blake Snell. “Stroman to the Yankees is the most likely of the Yankees’ situations right now,” Morosi said.

Even though the links with Blake Snell were growing relatively strong recently, Stroman could prove to be a better fit for the Pinstripes. Not only is he a quality player, but he could prove to be much cheaper than the Cy Young Winner. This is an ideal situation for a Yankees team that has overexerted its payroll.

Even after a terrible first year, the Pinstripes are still all in on Carlos Rodon. As a result, adding another expensive pitcher like Snell could’ve proved counterproductive for them. Although Stroman’s 2023 was below his usual level with a 10-9 record and an ERA of 3.95, he still brings much-needed depth to the Yankees pitching staff.

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Perhaps that’s why the Bombers are willing to take a chance on him. But there are some signs that the pinstripes need to take notice of.

Is Stroman heading into a slow decline?

Ever since leaving the New York Mets in 2021, Stroman’s stats have grown markedly worse each year. In 2022, his ERA was 3.50 and he had a record of 6-7. In 2023, the win record improved, but his ERA declined to 3.95. Is this a case of bad management by the Chicago Cubs, or is a decline setting in for Stroman?

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Also, Stroman’s record at Yankee Stadium is not good. With an ERA of 6.06 in 11 starts, this has been one of the most difficult places for him. This is something that the Yankees need to focus on. With a squad full of underperforming pitchers, potentially adding another could prove disastrous. But as of now, the Yankees look sure of Stroman, and so continues the offseason exchange between the Mets and Yankees.