NEW YORK — Right-hander Marcus Stroman and the New York Yankees finalized a two-year, $37 million contract.
The agreement includes a conditional player option for 2026.
The 32-year-old grew up on Long Island, not far from Yankee Stadium, and spent 2019 and 2021 across town with the New York Mets — he opted out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Stroman joins a Yankees rotation headed by AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole that likely will include Clarke Schmidt. Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes are coming off injury-shortened seasons.
Stroman opted out of the final year of his contract with the Chicago Cubs, giving up a $21 million salary for 2024 to test the market. He went 16-16 with a 3.73 ERA while earning $50 million over his two seasons with Chicago.
Stroman missed six weeks last season because of inflammation in his right hip and then a rib cartilage fracture. He finished with a 3.95 ERA that was his highest since 2018, but he’s generally been reliable throughout his career. Last season marked his second All-Star selection.
Stroman is 77-76 with a 3.65 ERA since making his big league debut with Toronto in 2014. He sat out the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but his 2021 campaign was one of his best, as he posted a 3.02 ERA in 33 starts for the Mets. The Cubs then signed him to what could have been a three-year deal, but he declined his player option for 2024.
New York designated Oscar Gonzalez for assignment to open a roster spot.
Major League Baseball announced the full 2024 spring training workout dates for each team, including the Yankees, on Wednesday.
Yankees pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 15. With a couple of new names in the rotation, like Marcus Stroman and catcher Austin Wells to potentially play a bigger role this season, this report date is the most important on the Yankees’ spring training calendar.
The first full-squad workout will be on Feb. 20, when new Yankees like Juan Soto and Trent Grisham will work out with their new team for the first time.
With so many big free agents yet to be signed, it’ll be interesting to see if any of them end up with the Yankees. Blake Snell was reportedly offered a deal, so there have been talks between the two sides already.
Are the Yankees willing to give up a ton of prospect capital to acquire a pitcher like Dylan Cease?
With the spring training dates set, perhaps the push to sign/trade for talent will ramp up for all organizations as they hope to get players with their new teams as soon as possible.
Leave a Reply