Marcus Stroman came into 2025 spring training defiant. The veteran right-hander had been shopped around the trade market by the New York Yankees all winter, hoping teams would overlook his decline in the second half of 2024 and take on his salary. When they found no takers, Stroman arrived at workouts two days later than the other pitchers and repeatedly said he would not pitch out of the bullpen. The latest Yankees injury update makes Stroman look prophetic. Luis Gil shut himself down after just a few pitches in a bullpen session due to shoulder tightness, a concerning development for the Yankees. Gil is scheduled for an MRI on March 1, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone, typically optimistic, acknowledged his concern.
“Hopefully, it’s not something too serious, but it also feels like something that’s going to cost us some time,” Boone told reporters. While Will Warren has impressed early in spring training and may be an option, Stroman is the Yankees’ only available starter with a proven big-league track record. He has already pitched one scoreless inning in spring training and is scheduled to make his second appearance on March 2 against the Atlanta Braves.
After signing a two-year, $37 million deal with the Yankees, Stroman started strong, posting a 3.51 ERA in the first half of 2024. However, the 33-year-old struggled in the second half, finishing with a 5.98 ERA. He was removed from the rotation and did not appear in any of the Yankees’ 14 postseason games. One of the biggest concerns for Stroman was his declining strikeout rate, which dropped to 16.7%, ranking in the bottom seven percentile among MLB pitchers and marking the lowest of his career. His velocity also declined, with his fastball averaging 89.4 mph in 2024, a significant drop from the 93 mph he averaged in 2017.
Stroman’s struggles in the Bronx frustrated Yankees fans. His ERA at Yankee Stadium was 5.31, compared to a 3.09 ERA on the road. His contract includes an $18.5 million option for 2026 that vests if he pitches 140 innings this season, which has been a major obstacle to potential trades. Now, however, Stroman may become a crucial piece of the Yankees’ rotation.
