If Yankees If they can rethink one of the free agency decisions they made last offseason, it would likely be signing Marcus Stroman to a two-year, $37 million deal that includes a 2026 player option if he pitches more than 140 innings next season. Stroman joined the Yankees in 2023 after a good year with the Chicago Cubs at age 33, during which he pitched 136.2 innings and posted a 3.95 ERA. Despite a late-season injury that affected his performance, the Yankees hoped he would be a reliable back-end rotation arm.

Decline in Every Field

Unfortunately, Stroman experienced decline in many important areas. He pitched 154.2 innings but posted a disappointing 4.31 ERA, 4.87 xERA, 6.58 strikeouts per nine innings, 73.9% base separation rate, and 49.2% ground ball rate. His strikeouts dropped sharply, his walks hit a career high, and his ground ball rate dropped 8%, turning him from an effective starter to a liability, especially in the playoffs.

About Key Metrics

Stroman ranked in the 10th percentile in whiff rate and 7th percentile in strikeout rate, indicating a diminished ability to create swings and misses. His opponents’ hard hit rate against him was 40.2 percent, which put him at 36 percent. His velocity is down significantly in 2023, averaging 92.2 mph compared to just 90.6 mph last season. The batter hit .306 with a .466 slugging percentage against his sinker, which he threw 35.1% of the time.

Signs of Fall

With Stroman’s velocity trending downward, the Yankees face an immediate problem as they prepare for the 2025 season. His contract becomes another dead weight with limited return on investment. Although he threw 154 pitches, his dominant performances were few and the decline in velocity signaled potential physical deterioration.

Yankees’ Strategic Moves Forward

To avoid triggering Stroman’s 2026 player option, which would kick in if he pitches more than 140 innings next season, the Yankees will likely significantly limit his workload. Alternatively, they could explore trading him on a salary dump this summer, freeing up valuable resources toward other areas of need.