Stroman was signed to a two-year contract worth $37 million during the 2024-2025 offseason and Stroman was expected to be a solid starter in the middle of the rotation. He was a disappointment in his first year in New York, posting a 4.31 ERA and a 1.468 WHIP over 154.2 innings, striking out 113 batters with 60 walks. Stroman made 30 appearances, including 29 starts, in 2024. While his production did not match his contract, he was a decent back-of-the-rotation starter.
In 2025, everything fell apart. Stroman arrived late to spring training and immediately declared himself the starting pitcher, saying he refused to pitch in the bullpen. He missed more than three months with left knee inflammation and struggled when he was able to pitch for the Yankees, posting a 6.23 ERA and 1.538 WHIP over 39 innings, striking out 26 batters with 16 walks before being released on August 1.
Marcus Stroman continued to show signs that he could be effective after leaving the Yankees
Despite his mediocre performance, there were some encouraging signs. Stroman posted a ground ball percentage of 48.9 percentwhich was still well above the league average. His success rate of 42.5 percent and average exit speed of 139.1 km/h were in line with his career standards.
This does not mean that Stroman’s preconditions were entirely positive. His 16.4 percent strikeout rate and 8.9 percent walk rate were worse than league average. Stroman had a 2.9 percent home run percentage, still below league average, but worse than his career norms. Considering Stroman will turn 35 in the 2026 season, one wonders how much he has left in the tank.
In the right scenario, however, Stroman could still be a steal. If he signs with a team with a wider ballpark and a strong defense in the field, he can still be an effective option in the back of a rotation. Stroman is unlikely to cost much on a one-year deal and may even be available on a minor league contract, where he would have to prove himself in spring training. At that price, it could be worth seeing if Stroman can rebound in 2026.
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