The New York Yankees are in first place in the American League East and are coming off a blowout victory over the Athletics yesterday. Nevertheless, the Bronx Bombers must make significant strides in certain areas before becoming legitimate World Series contenders.
One of the concerns so far this year has been the starting pitching. Offseason ace signing Max Fried has been phenomenal in 2025 and is the early frontrunner for AL Cy Young. However, outside of Fried and an improving Carlos Rodon, the rest of the rotation leaves much to be desired.
Help will be on the way later in the season with 2024 Rookie of the Year Luis Gil returning from a strained right lat. However, this rotation is being stitched together by manager Aaron Boone at the moment. Unfortunately, one of the players who has struggled the most from this unit is Marcus Stroman. The former two-time All-Star has seen a significant drop in form during his time in the Bronx.
In just three starts, Stroman is 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA. The 34-year-old has been dealing with left knee inflammation, which has kept him out since April 12. USA Today Network baseball writer Pete Caldera broke down the implications of Stroman’s recent absence and why he still has a lot to play for going forward.
“Over the weekend, there was another setback in Stroman’s rehab from a left knee issue – creating deeper uncertainty about his pinstriped future,” Caldera asserts. “With no path to the 140 innings that would have triggered an $18 million option for 2026, Stroman hopes to salvage some part of 2025 as he re-enters free agency.”
Stroman is, therefore, several weeks away from returning. The eleven-year veteran can still provide a lot of value to the Yankees if he can regain his form from the recent past. But if Stroman continues on this track, the 27-time World Series champions might need to make a trade soon if they want to win a second-straight Pennant.
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