The New York Yankees might want to sign more players in free agency before the season starts, but Marcus Stroman’s contract is a prime excuse not to do so.
One can question all day whether or not the Yankees should put any sort of financial restrictions on themselves as the most profitable team in Major League Baseball. But ultimately, the transactions speak the loudest, so trading Stroman remains a top priority for New York.
Unfortunately, no one seems to be biting at the moment. It’s reasonable–Stroman is getting paid $18.5 million this season and has an identical vesting option in 2026 if he throws 140 or more innings this season. That’s quite a bit to pay for a pitcher with less than one WAR last season.
However, as one MLB writer explains, one team might need to spend more money, which would open the door for a Stroman trade.
On Tuesday, Just Baseball’s Matt Carroll named the Miami Marlins as a potential fit to acquire Stroman thanks to their need to add approximately $35 million in payroll, which would ensure they avoid a grievance from the MLB Players Association that would jeopardize their revenue-sharing payments.
“Stroman didn’t initially report to Yankees camp right away but has since joined his teammates,” Carroll wrote. His desire for a starting role hasn’t changed, though. ‘I won’t pitch in the bullpen. I’m a starter,’ he stated, per Jorge Castillo of ESPN.”
“Miami is relying on a lot of youth in the rotation behind ace Sandy Alcantara, and a veteran arm would give them more stability. The move wouldn’t singlehandedly get the Marlins to their target payroll, but it would eat up about half of the gap.”
The Marlins’ current 2025 payroll sits at $70 million, per FanGraphs. They’d have to get to $105 million to be safe from any potential grievances, though it’s not unprecedented for a team to come in under budget and play chicken with the MLBPA.
Stroman would be an easy way for the Marlins to knock out half of that payroll gap. Plus, if he rebounds early in the season, he could make for a trade chip that Miami could use at the deadline to acquire more prospects.
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