Free agent right-hander Marcus Stroman has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the New York Yankees. News of the deal was first reported by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman on Thursday evening. The Yankees haven’t confirmed the deal yet, which is pending a physical. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that it is a two-year, $37 million contract with a vesting option for a third year.
Above Average Results
Marcus Stroman made his major league debut in 2014 with the Toronto Blue Jays. He has been a consistently above-average starter since then. Stroman’s ERA+ has been no worse than 113 in any of the past four years. He logged that 113 last season, and it started out looking like a possible career year for the 32-year-old. He carried a 2.28 ERA and a .536 opponents’ OPS through his first 16 starts with the Chicago Cubs en route to making his second All-Star team in 2023.
Stroman struggled, however, in July of last year. He allowed 27 earned runs across 26 2/3 innings during the month before landing on the injured list on August 2 with right hip inflammation. Stroman’s return to the mound was delayed by a right rib cartilage fracture. He rejoined the Cubs on September 15 but didn’t see a lot of action. Stroman threw eight innings over four relief appearances to close out the year. He ended with a 3.95 ERA, the second-highest mark of his career.
Bout with Covid
In 2022, Stroman missed a month due to right shoulder inflammation and was also sidelined for two-plus weeks due to a bout with COVID-19. Prior to that, Stroman had been one of baseball’s best pitchers. He exceeded 180 innings three times in a four-year span between 2016-19. Marcus Stroman surpassed 200 innings in ‘16 and ‘17 with the Blue Jays. The latter season saw him earn a Gold Glove and finish among the top 10 for the AL Cy Young.
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