The Yankees have been trying to move Marcus Stroman and his $18.5 million salary for the 2025 season, but like trying to sell a car with a faulty engine, the market hasn’t been particularly enthusiastic. Stroman’s deal comes with a significant caveat: if he pitches more than 140 innings this season, it triggers a 2026 player option.
For any team considering him, that clause is a red flag waving in the wind, signaling both financial commitment and risk.
The Player Option Problem
The 2026 player option looming over Stroman’s contract has made trade discussions challenging. Teams aren’t keen on absorbing his salary only to impose an innings limit, essentially boxing themselves into a situation where they must carefully manage his workload.
It’s a tricky balancing act, like trying to walk a tightrope while juggling flaming torches. The Yankees have floated the idea of eating a portion of Stroman’s salary to sweeten the deal, but even that hasn’t sparked significant interest.
Eating Salary to Move the Needle
To offload Stroman, the Yankees may need to absorb $6–8 million of his 2025 salary. While it’s not an ideal scenario, it would open up financial flexibility, allowing them to pivot and address critical infield needs. That flexibility could be the key to upgrading at second or third base, positions that remain glaring holes in their lineup. The Yankees might use those savings to target a cost-efficient free agent or trade for a controllable infielder, but first, they’ll need to find a team willing to take on Stroman under these conditions.
A Tough Sell for Cashman
General manager Brian Cashman has faced no shortage of hurdles this offseason, but moving Stroman might be one of the toughest yet.
Other teams see the risk associated with Stroman’s declining performance and the financial implications of the player option. In 2024, Stroman’s numbers were pedestrian at best, with a 4.31 ERA over 154.2 innings and a career-low 6.58 strikeouts per nine innings. Add in the highest walk rate of his career at 3.49 per nine, and you start to see why teams are reluctant to bite.
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The Path Forward
The Yankees’ best bet may be finding a team desperate for rotation depth, one willing to take a chance on Stroman if the Yankees shoulder enough of the financial burden. By freeing up even a portion of his salary, they could make a much-needed infield upgrade. The real question is whether Cashman can sell the idea of Stroman’s upside to potential suitors while minimizing the risk they’d take on. Until then, Stroman’s contract remains a puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit.