By Adeniyi Precious 
The New York Yankees have been super busy this offseason, dropping cash like there’s no tomorrow. They’re behind only the Mets in spending, thanks to big names like Max Fried, Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Devin Williams joining the roster. But now, with one of the biggest payrolls in MLB—$284 million—they’re looking to shed some weight.
Word is, the Yankees are trying to trade All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. So far, they’ve had no luck, but they’re even offering to cover part of his contract to make it happen.
Stroman signed a two-year, $37 million deal with his hometown Yankees last year, hoping to help them win a title. While they made it to the World Series, they lost to the Dodgers, and Stroman didn’t exactly deliver. His 2024 season was… let’s just say, underwhelming. He went 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA and didn’t even pitch in the postseason. Ouch.
Here’s the kicker: Stroman’s contract for 2025 is worth $18.333 million, and there’s a vesting option for the same amount in 2026 if he hits 140 innings pitched this season. The Yankees are willing to eat some of that money just to clear space, potentially for an infielder. But even if they offload him, it sounds like they’re still not going after big names like Alex Bregman or Nolan Arenado.
At 34 (this May), Stroman’s numbers just aren’t cutting it. Opponents hit .277 off him with a .780 OPS and 19 homers last season. If the Yankees can move him, it’ll free up some cash and flexibility. But for now, nothing’s close to happening.
Stay tuned—it looks like this saga is far from over.