Yesterday, Yankees' starting pitcher Marcus Stroman had a seven-run lead during his start, but in the fourth inning, he gave up four runs to the Rays after an eight-batter assault, marking the end of his Yankees career. With Luis Gil set to return from injury next Monday, the Yankees announced the release of the veteran right-hander who has been with the team for two years.
"Today's decision was extremely difficult," said manager Aaron Boone. "There is a discrepancy between the external perception of Stroman and the real person we've interacted with over the past two years. He is an outstanding competitor... I am confident we will stay in touch for the rest of our lives."
Stroman has a record of 3 wins and 2 losses with a 6.23 ERA in nine starts this season, and he still earned the win against the Rays yesterday. If the Yankees had retained his spot in the rotation, it would have limited the development opportunities for rookies Cam Schlittler or Will Warren. The 26-year-old Warren has a 4.64 ERA in 23 starts this season, while the 24-year-old Schlittler has already pitched three times, clocking the fastest pitch of the season for the team (over 100 mph).
"Warren and Schlittler are both capable of being full-time rotation members," Boone emphasized. Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough is currently recovering from a right oblique strain and is expected to return by the end of the month to provide depth to the pitching staff.
This move comes a day after the Yankees made significant additions to their bullpen before the trade deadline, acquiring David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird. General Manager Brian Cashman admitted that he actively sought starting pitchers, including Sandy Alcantara from the Marlins, but ultimately did not reach an agreement.
The Yankees will still need to pay Stroman approximately $5 million of his salary for this season. His two-year, $37 million contract signed last year included a conditional player option of $18 million for 2026 (which required him to pitch 140 innings this season), which automatically becomes void upon his release.
This is not the first time Stroman has faced a crowded rotation. Before Gerrit Cole's injury this spring, the Yankees already had an excess of starting pitchers. Stroman had previously insisted on "not taking on a relief role," but after injuring his left knee in April against the Giants and missing two months, his stance softened. In his first season with the Yankees, he made 30 appearances (29 starts) with a 4.31 ERA, but did not participate in the postseason series against the Royals.
During his career with the Blue Jays, Mets, and Cubs, two-time All-Star Stroman has made a total of 270 appearances (261 starts) with a 3.79 ERA. In 2023, while with the Cubs, he made the All-Star team again with a record of 10 wins and 9 losses and an ERA of 3.95.