Yankees and Stroman will have ‘mutual interest’ (report)

On the pitching side, the Yankees have little to show for themselves this winter, despite their efforts to improve their starting rotation this offseason. They lost the deal for Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They are not believed to be among the finalists in the bid to sign Shota Imanaga. And MLB Network’s Jon Heyman recently wrote in the New York Post that the Yankees “remain distant in negotiations” with the top free agent starters still available on the market, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery.

But as the Yankees’ pitching search continues, they may reach an agreement with Marcus Stroman. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the two sides have a “mutual interest” that began during CEO meetings in November. This came a day after Nightengale wrote that Stroman told the Yankees he was “seriously interested in signing with them, but the Yankees refused to make an offer.”

The Giants, Angels, Orioles and Red Sox have also been linked to the 32-year-old right-hander, and a reunion with the Cubs “cannot be ruled out,” according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. MLB Network contributor Jon Paul Morosi on Friday called the Phillies a “very good opportunity” for Stroman.

Stroman was selected to the All-Star Game for a second time in 2023 and finished the year with a 3.95 ERA in 136.2 innings, although he did not start after July due to injuries to his ribs and right hip. Stroman has experience playing in New York, having pitched for the Mets from 2019 to 2021. During that span, he posted a remarkable 126 ERA+ in 238.2 appearances (44 starts).