Yankees are ‘actively trying to deal’ starting pitcher
Marcus Stroman’s time in New York seems to be close to expiring.
After spending parts of two seasons with the Mets (2020-21) and the 2024 campaign with the Yankees, Stroman could be pitching for his fifth team in 2025.
According to USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale on Tuesday, the Yankees “are actively trying to deal starter Marcus Stroman and clear his $18 million salary.”
The efforts to move Stroman make sense. The 33-year-old right-hander is sixth on the Yankees’ pitching depth chart, making him an expensive swingman as he’d likely start and pitch in long relief. He also was a below average pitcher in 2024, when he posted a 4.31 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 154 2/3 innings and did enter a game in the Yankees’ run to the World Series.
That reality likely means that moving Stroman will be akin to a salary dump, or be an exchange of bad contracts.
Either way, the Yankees have added significant salary this offseason and ridding themselves of a contract for more financial flexibility isn’t surprising. Starting pitcher Max Fried got an eight-year, $218 million contract, outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger will be paid $25 million for at least one year, closer Devin Williams will earn $7 million in 2025 and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt signed a one-year, $12.5 million deal.
The Yankees’ rotation comprises Gerrit Cole, Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt.
Yankees Target Predicted to Land $34 Million Deal in MLB Free Agency
Another potential New York Yankees target was taken off the board on Jan. 6, with Gavin Lux being traded to the Cincinnati Reds. The Yankees need an infielder, and the longer they wait to land one via free agency or a trade, the better chance there won’t be another new face in the Bronx this spring.
The options are dwindling for the Yankees. They could get creative by signing a player who could play multiple positions, like Jurickson Profar, or sign a proven second or third baseman.
Sticking with Profar, he was used as an infielder in the earlier stages of his career before heading to the outfield nearly full-time. The Yankees could view him as killing two birds with one stone. He plays left field, a potential position of need, and can play second when needed.
His contract shouldn’t be too much either, perhaps the reason they need to be all in on the switch-hitter who posted a career-high 137 OPS+ a year ago.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report predicted Profar would land a two-year, $34 million deal in free agency, an amount the Yankees could pay.
“Just one year after the Colorado Rockies released him during the season, Profar turned in the finest campaign of his career. He homered 24 times, drove in 85 runs, walked 76 times and posted an .839 OPS. Not only was he an All-Star for the first time in his career, but also won a Silver Slugger.
“Still, it’s understandable that just a year after a disastrous campaign spent mostly with the Rockies that teams are a bit skeptical of Profar. Is he better than he showed in 2023? Absolutely. Will he ever match what he did in 2024? Probably not,” Kelly wrote on January 6.
What Is Profar Looking for?
Profar put himself in an excellent position to get a raise, having the best season of his career in his free agency year.
The New York Yankees will have to pay him the market price, but even then, he could be one of the sneaky pickups of the offseason.
If Profar slashes .280/.380/.459 with 24 home runs and gives the Yankees defensive flexibility, he’s worth more than the predicted $34 million over two years.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, he’s looking for a three-year deal. If he gets $17 million AAV like Kelly predicted, that could put his contract over $50 million. AAV, however, is more important in this scenario.
“Also looking for a deal in the three-year-plus range: Jurickson Profar, who is coming off a .280/.380/.459 season that included a career-best 24 home runs,” Passan wrote on December 19.
