New York Yankees: Why Stroman Is A Better Option Than Bumgarner

Are the New York Yankees interested in trading for Blue Jays pitcher, Marcus Stroman?
Jun 7, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Gerry Angus-USA TODAY Sports

After the New York Yankees starting pitching had one of its worst weeks in franchise history, it looks more likely that the team will acquire a starting pitcher before the trade deadline. Marcus Stroman and Madison Bumgarner are the two biggest names that come up, and the Yankees will be better off acquiring Stroman over Bumgarner.

Why Stroman?

Marcus Stroman is a little less than a year younger than Madison Bumgarner, and debuted in the majors in 2014 compared to 2009 for Bumgarner. This means that Stroman would be under team control through 2021, when Bumgarner’s contract expires at the end of 2020.

Stroman has also had less issues with other players. Even though he is in the NL, Bumgarner has had many run-ins with guys like Yasiel Puig, and that could be harmful to the team.

Plus, Stroman is having a better season than Bumgarner. Though he is 6-11, Stroman has an ERA under 3.00 and a 3.2 WAR. Bumgarner has a 5-7 record and an ERA of 3.66 with a WAR of just half of Stroman’s.

However, it might be hard to get Bumgarner anyway. The Giants are playing well of late, and they may not end up selling in hopes of a shot at a wildcard spot. The Blue Jays on the other hand are well out of the wildcard race and are beginning a huge rebuild.

With that being said, Toronto would likely want more prospects for Stroman. They are rumored to be interested in Deivi Garcia and Clint Frazier, but other guys like Tyler Wade could also be in the mix.

Marcus Stroman would be a much better option for the Yankees over Madison Bumgarner.