The New York Yankees are looking for pitchers to fill the rotation; one pitcher is no longer in the equation, the New York Met’s Marcus Stroman has accepted the Mets $18.9 million qualifying offer to spend another year at Citi Field in Queens. Stroman was often mentioned as a solution to the Yankee’s need for a mid-rotation pitcher.
Last season the Yankees also considered Stroman in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, but that didn’t work out, and he ended up with the crosstown New York Mets. In this coronavirus season, Stroman was one of the players to opt-out, only playing a few games before injuring himself with a muscle tear in his left calf. His return was unknown, but then opted out of the season and didn’t play another game for the Mets.
“After watching the presser, I’m beyond excited to play for you sir. I could feel the excitement and passion you’re going to bring daily. Let’s go be great! @StevenACohen2,†Stroman wrote.
With Stroman now out of the picture, that is one less pitcher the New York Yankees have to consider in repairing their starting pitching rotation. The Yankees lost three pitchers that were not offered qualifying offers. Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, and J.A. Happ. It appears the Yankees are not negotiating with any of them. If they attempt to bring any one of the back, it will be Masahiro Tanaka, but at a discounted rate for a short term contract.
Besides Stroman, the Yankees are looking at Corey Kluber, Kevin Gausman, and Charlie Morton of the Tampa Bay Rays. Morton is a solid pitcher with successful postseason experience with the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays. That experience might be very attractive to the Yankees to have a third or fourth starter should they reach the postseason.