The New York Yankees’ clubhouse hums with a hope of winning the championship title, but beneath the glow of their impressive start this season lingers a quiet tension. Their $37 million pitcher, Marcus Stroman, often regarded as one of the cornerstones of the franchise, has been an absolute disaster this 2025 season. If rumors are to be true, the Yankees may part ways with the starting pitcher soon.
Will that be a good call by the Yankees?
Well, for the Yankees, they do have loads of talent on their roster. With players like Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, and Max Fried playing their parts quite exceptionally well, their starting pitching has been a worrying aspect. Despite having a good start to the season, Marcus Stroman has struggled in the second half.
While a lot of people’s faith hasn’t been shaken yet, Marcus Stroman’s struggles have prompted a move to the bullpen in September. He did not appear for the Yankees in the postseason, and the Yankees lost to the Dodgers in the World Series.
However, the poor form continued as he went 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA, 3 G, 9.1 IP, and struck out batters only seven times this season at a 2.04 WHIP. More concerning was that Stroman made only three starts and threw 9.1 innings, where he allowed 12 hits, seven walks, two home runs, and 12 earned runs. Back in February, Stroman seemed quite positive, saying, “I don’t think there was a need for me to be here the last few days, given the climate. I talked to [manager Aaron Boone]. We had a great conversation. Everything’s honestly perfect and seamless, and my relationship to guys in the clubhouse hasn’t changed. I feel great to be back and I’m ready to roll,” but it hasn’t gone to plan.
Getting hit hard and landing on the injured list further sparks criticism, and the Yankees most likely aren’t willing to afford such a liability amid their pitching woes.
For those who are unaware, the Bronx Bombers boast an unimpressive pitching lineup. While many thought that Marcus Stroman could be the one to provide some depth to the Yankees, unfortunately, he hadn’t lived up to the hype or expectations. But not to forget that he had a stellar record in 2024, where he went 10-9 with 29 GS, a 4.31 ERA, and 113 strikeouts at 154.2 IP.
However, with the season well past the early days, there’s little room for errors. And the Yankees wouldn’t like to take risks by keeping someone in the team who has failed them repeatedly. That’s why they are looking to cut ties with Stroman prior to the month end, replacing him with Brock Selvidge, maybe?
The Yankees look to strengthen their roster with pitching support
Amid the rumors and debates of the Yankees not being willing to move forward with Marcus Stroman anymore, the first name that comes to mind is Brock Selvidge. The Yankees’ top prospect was sidelined on the 60-day injured list on March 19 by the Double-A Somerset due to inflammation in his biceps. Still, he managed to finish the campaign with a 4.25 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 83:40 K:BB across the 84.2 innings he pitched. While it’s not certain whether he will remain shelved, the Yankees are aiming to replace Marcus Stroman with the top prospect.
But the shallow pitching depth is not a new thing for the New York Yankees. Brian Cashman, executive of the New York Yankees, has previously acknowledged the pitching depth being tested, and with Gerrit Cole being sidelined due to the Tommy John surgery, problems are still there.
The Yankees have even signed Ryan Yarbrough, whose 29.4% hard-hit rate was ranked second in the majors when compared to other pitchers who have faced at least 300 batters. He boasts of a 4.21 ERA in his 768 innings and the Yankees will expect him to succeed as a reliever and even bolster their pitching roster further.
Do you think letting go of Marcus Stroman might be a good move by the Yankees?
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