Yankees Sign Marcus Stroman To Strengthen Pitching Rotation
On Thursday, Marcus Stroman and the New York Yankees reached a $37 million, two-year contract, as reported by a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity pending a successful physical. The deal also includes an option for 2026 that has the potential to become guaranteed. Stroman confirmed the agreement by posting an Instagram story featuring a photo of himself in a Yankees uniform.
The Long Island native, located about 55 miles from Yankee Stadium, previously played for the New York Mets in 2019 and 2021, opting out of the shortened 2020 season due to the pandemic. Stroman”s addition fortifies a Yankees rotation led by AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, and potentially featuring pitchers like Clarke Schmidt, Carlos Rodon, and Nestor Cortes, who are recovering from injury-plagued seasons.
The 32-year-old Stroman chose to forego the final year of his contract with the Chicago Cubs, which would have earned him a $21 million salary for 2024. In his two seasons with the Cubs, he compiled a 16-16 record with a 3.73 ERA, earning $50 million. Despite missing six weeks last season due to a right hip inflammation and rib cartilage fracture, Stroman, a two-time All-Star, finished with a 3.95 ERA, his highest since 2018.
Stroman, who debuted with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014, boasts a career record of 77-76 with a 3.65 ERA. After sitting out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he had a strong comeback in 2021, posting a 3.02 ERA in 33 starts for the Mets. Following this successful campaign, the Cubs signed him to a potential three-year deal, but he opted out of his player option for 2024.
