Suddenly, the New York Yankees may have more significant problems than an injury-decimated rotation or a ‘Torpedo’ bat controversy. Fans accused the Yankees of placing starting pitcher Marcus Stroman on the ‘Phantom Injured List’ on Saturday, one day after the two-time All-Star self-reported a knee injury. Stroman allowed five runs and failed to make it out of the first inning in Friday’s 9-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

For the unfamiliar, the phantom IL refers to teams placing a player on the injured list with a vague injury, like a hamstring or shoulder problem, to free a roster spot without passing through waivers. Going on the phantom injured list also allows players to get a mental or physical reprieve amid an extended slump-or, in extreme cases, stay away from the team outright. Sounds simple, right? There’s only one problem: although most teams use the phantom IL, the practice also violates league policy.

Major League Baseball suspended former New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler in February 2024 for a “deliberate fabrication of injuries” during the previous two seasons. According to CBS Sports, the Mets used the injured list 28 times in 2022 (10th most in baseball) and 25 times in 2023 (11th most in baseball).

Eppler resigned in October 2023 and is currently a special advisor to the Milwaukee Brewers. To be clear, there have been no credible reports that the league will investigate the Yankees for manipulating the injured list. As we said, Stroman self-reported a left knee injury and went on the IL following tests. However, Yankees fans don’t buy the idea that Stroman is actually hurt. “Is this phantom IL or is he actually hurt?” one X (formerly Twitter) user asked the Yankees’ official account.

Some speculated that the Yankees placed the struggling Stroman on the injured list for financial reasons. Stroman’s 2026 $18 million player option kicks in if he pitches 140 innings. If Yankees fans are that skeptical, how long before Major League Baseball gets involved? Stroman did not speak with the media following Friday’s loss or at any point on Saturday. However, San Francisco Giants pitcher Ross Stripling openly acknowledged he was on the “phantom IL” late in the 2023 season. Stripling later apologized for the term, and the Giants traded him to the Athletics in February 2024. We’ll see if the outspoken Stroman eventually takes a similar approach. If so, the Yankees could be in big trouble.