The different scenarios at play with Stroman's player option
Yesterday at 08:00 AM
There are question marks surrounding Stroman heading into the 2025 campaign.
Marcus Stroman signed with the Yankees last offseason to add depth to this rotation, and he did just that — albeit with underwhelming enough numbers that he didn't see a minute of action during New York's lengthy postseason run. That was the first of two guaranteed seasons in a contract that contains a potential player option for 2026 with enough interesting points that it's worth exploring in further detail.
The chances of that opt-out leading to the completion of a third year of this deal is almost nonexistent, given Storman's current standing and how the initial contract was set up. The rules of the opt-out are pretty simple: If Stroman manages to pitch at least 140 innings in 2025, he'll get the opportunity to opt in for a $18 million salary in 2026 or head into free agency.
If you want to be positive and assume Stroman will bounce back—which is not that far-fetched considering his form between 2021 and 2023—the chances are that he'll decline the opt-out and go to free agency seeking a long-term deal. Let's not forget in a similar situation, Stroman left more money on the table ($21 million over one year) than he would get in this 2026 scenario when he initially left the Cubs to reach free agency last offseason, signing with the Yankees.
On the flip side of things, in a more likely scenario, if Stroman pitches anywhere near his 2024 self, the Yankees have a somewhat easy decision in carefully managing his workload. A grievance wouldn't exactly be on the table, as given Stroman's recent production, they would be better off looking elsewhere for quality work. This should be a not-so-difficult task when we're talking about a guy who has "only" averaged 143 innings across the last three seasons and tossed 154.2 innings without the looming issue of this opt-out last year.
As things currently stand, Stroman is the sixth starter on the team, behind Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil. Assuming everyone is healthy by Opening Day (yes, this is a big if), the Yankees could very reasonably have Stroman in the bullpen as a long-relief specialist and emergency starter. In fact, that's the right move to me, opt-out or not.
Potentially the biggest wrinkle in all of this is the lack of depth the Yankees have behind those six starters as a team that has dealt established starting pitching for help elsewhere in each of the past two offseasons. Last offseason, it was Michael King; this time around, Nestor Cortes was shipped off to Milwaukee.
Beyond those six arms, the Yankees are looking at the likes of Will Warren and Clayton Beeter in the upper minors without any outstanding top prospect on the verge of making a big impact.
As certain as Stroman's place as the sixth-best starter currently is, the likelihood that he eventually jumps a couple of spots amidst midseason injuries is also up there. Cole and Fried both had arm issues last year, Rodón's health is always a wild card, Schmidt missed three months with a lat strain, and Gil just pitched his first full season after Tommy John surgery. So however you feel about him, Stroman is a useful card for a contending team to have in its metaphorical hand, even if ideally they wouldn't want to be paying him the $18 million in 2026.
Another aspect to keep in mind is not only the possibility of moving Stroman midseason but also adding to this staff depending on its health near the Trade Deadline. This might come into play, particularly if Stroman maintains the underwhelming level of production he showed in 2024. Despite his utility as a rotation backup, there is a solid chance that the Yankees deal him before Opening Day, especially if Hal Steinbrenner wants to free up luxury tax space for another move.
That's a 2025 question, though. As for 2026? All things considered, it'd be a huge surprise if Stroman is back with the Yankees by then.
