The Yankees are expected to part ways with their $37 million All-Star pitcher in a trade, as the team gears up for a pitching-focused strategy for the 2025 season. Following a series of key decisions in recent weeks, the Yankees are prioritizing run suppression over offensive production.
After losing out on Juan Soto to the Mets, the Yankees pivoted to Plan B: bolstering their pitching rotation. The team made a significant move by signing Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million deal, creating a formidable co-ace pairing with Gerrit Cole. This duo is set to deliver one of MLB’s strongest 1-2 punches. Complementing them are Luis Gil, the reigning A.L. Rookie of the Year, and veteran Carlos Rodon, who combined for a stellar 31-16 record across 61 starts last season. Their consistency gives the Yankees not just a top-tier rotation but one of the deepest in the league.
This newfound depth, however, renders veteran pitcher Marcus Stroman potentially expendable. According to the Bergen County Record, Stroman, who signed a two-year, $37 million deal last winter, may be traded as early as spring training or early in the season. At 33 years old and coming off an All-Star season with the Cubs in 2023, Stroman was sidelined during the Yankees’ postseason run, signaling his diminishing role in the rotation.
The Record predicts that Yankees GM Brian Cashman will look to offload Stroman’s $18 million 2025 salary, possibly trading him back to the Toronto Blue Jays for two lottery-pick prospects. Stroman began his career with the Blue Jays, spending five-and-a-half seasons there before being traded to the Mets in 2019.
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