When Marcus Stroman signed that two-year, $37 million deal to join the New York Yankees in early 2024, it felt like the kind of move destined for a movie script. A kid from Medford, Long Island, finally pitching for the team he grew up rooting for. He even posted photos of himself as a child in Yankees gear. It was supposed to be the perfect marriage of a high-energy, "big stage" personality and the brightest lights in baseball.
Fast forward to August 1, 2025. The Yankees released him.
No trade. No retirement. Just a straight-up release after a flurry of trade deadline moves. Honestly, it was a brutal ending to a tenure that started with so much promise. But if you look at the numbers and the health issues that plagued his 2025 season, the decision—while harsh—actually makes a lot of sense from Brian Cashman’s perspective.
The Downward Spiral of the New York Yankees Marcus Stroman Era
The first year of New York Yankees Marcus Stroman was actually pretty solid. People tend to forget that. In 2024, he went 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA over 154.2 innings. He did exactly what he was paid to do: eat innings and keep the team in games. He wasn’t Gerrit Cole, but he was a reliable veteran presence in a rotation that often felt like it was held together by scotch tape.
🔗 Read more: The Real Way to Watch World Series Free Without Getting Scammed
Then 2025 hit.
Things went sideways almost immediately. Stroman made only nine starts the entire year. A left knee inflammation injury in mid-April sidelined him for nearly two and a half months. When he finally made it back to the mound in late June, he looked like a completely different pitcher—and not in a good way.
His velocity was down. His command was shaky. He finished his 2025 stint in the Bronx with a ballooned 6.23 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. For a guy who relies on a "seven-pitch mix" and pinpoint sinker location, losing that edge is a death sentence. By the time the 2025 trade deadline rolled around, the Yankees were actively trying to trade him. When they couldn't find a taker for the remaining money on his contract, they simply cut him loose to make room for new acquisitions like Camilo Doval and David Bednar.
Why the Ground Ball Specialist Stopped Working
Stroman's whole identity is built on the sinker. He’s 5'7" (hence his "Height Doesn't Measure Heart" or HDMH brand), so he doesn't overpower hitters with a 100 mph heater. He wins by inducing weak contact.
💡 You might also like: Lions vs Ravens: The 2025 Matchup That Finally Flipped the Script
In 2024, his ground-ball rate was nearly 50%, which was top-tier in the American League. But in 2025, that knee injury seemed to mess with his mechanics. When a sinker-baller can’t drive off their back leg or land comfortably, the ball stays up. And when Marcus Stroman’s sinker stays up in Yankee Stadium, it usually ends up in the bleachers.
The Yankees eventually realized they had better, younger options. They promoted prospect Cam Schlittler and leaned into arms like Luis Gil and Max Fried. Keeping a struggling veteran with a 6+ ERA just wasn't justifiable for a team with World Series aspirations.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Clubhouse Drama
There is this lingering narrative that Stroman is a "clubhouse cancer." You see it on Twitter and hear it on sports talk radio constantly. But if you talk to the guys who actually played with him in the Bronx, that story doesn't hold much water.
Manager Aaron Boone was vocal about "loving Stro." Gerrit Cole and Max Fried were frequently seen laughing and working with him in the dugout. The "drama" almost always lived on social media or in his past beefs with the front office—specifically that 2019 incident where Cashman famously said he didn't think Stroman would be a "difference-maker" for their postseason rotation.
Stroman eventually accepted an apology for that, and by all accounts, he was a supportive teammate during his time in pinstripes. He frequently "gassed up" younger players like Anthony Volpe on social media. The real issue wasn't his personality; it was his durability.
The Financial Fallout
The Yankees didn't just walk away from him for free. By releasing him in August 2025, they had to eat about $5.6 million in "dead money."
More importantly, his contract had a vesting option for 2026. If he had reached 140 innings in 2025, an $18 million player option would have kicked in for the following year. Because of the knee injury and the subsequent release, he finished the year with only 39 innings. That saved the Yankees a massive chunk of change for the 2026 offseason, but it was a sad way for a local kid's dream job to end.
The Reality of Pitching in New York
New York is a "what have you done for me lately" town. Stroman knew that better than anyone. He thrives on the energy of the crowd, but that energy turns toxic quickly when the results aren't there.
By the end of his tenure, the boos at Yankee Stadium were getting loud. It's tough. Here is a guy who grew up 50 miles from the Bronx, who desperately wanted to be the hero, but his body just wouldn't cooperate.
So, what’s next? Stroman is currently a free agent. At 34 years old, he still believes he has plenty left in the tank. He’s been working on "mechanical tweaks" to take the pressure off his knee. Some teams like the Minnesota Twins have been rumored as potential landing spots for a low-risk, prorated league-minimum deal.
✨ Don't miss: Who the Eagles are playing next and why this matchup actually matters
The New York Yankees Marcus Stroman chapter is officially closed, and it serves as a reminder that even the most "perfect" fits on paper can be undone by a single nagging injury.
Actionable Takeaways for Following the Stroman Saga
- Watch the Velocity: If you're tracking his comeback attempts, keep an eye on his sinker velocity. If he’s sitting at 89 mph instead of 91-92 mph, he’ll struggle to survive in any MLB rotation.
- Check the Landing Spot: Look for teams with elite infield defense. Stroman is still a ground-ball pitcher at heart, and he needs a shortstop and second baseman who can vacuum up the weak contact he generates.
- Don't Buy the "Diva" Narrative: Evaluate his performance based on his Statcast data—like his spin rates and vertical break—rather than his Twitter "claps back." The data tells the real story of why he’s currently a free agent.
- Monitor the Vesting Options: In future veteran contracts, these 140-inning thresholds are the key. They often dictate whether a team keeps a player or cuts them loose early to avoid a massive future payout.