Yankees’ rotation going to jettison Stroman, claims insider

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The New York Yankees’ 2025 season is off to a solid start. However, beneath the surface of their winning record lies a simmering concern that could reshape the team’s pitching strategy moving forward: the role of Marcus Stroman. Despite being slotted in as the No. 3 starter out of spring training, insider Joel Sherman believes Stroman may still be the odd man out when the rotation eventually stabilizes—if it ever does.

According to him: “The odd man out’s going to be Stroman like he has the least stuff of that and so the Yankees could get away from the Stroman business and 140 innings and not deal with a grievance because if they were fully healthy they could make a case well we’re releasing this player or putting him in the bullpen because we have better guy.”

The Yankees rotation has yet to record a single quality start through the first nine games. In an era where starter workload is increasingly limited, that stat still raises alarm bells—especially for a club with championship aspirations. Stroman, once projected as a stabilizing No. 3 in a rotation ravaged by injuries, is now being quietly discussed as a potential odd man out when the Yankees return to full strength.

The numbers don’t lie

Stroman, who signed a two-year, $37 million deal with the Yankees this offseason, has struggled to provide the consistency or length the club desperately needs. He has failed to pitch beyond the fifth inning in either of his starts this season, and command has been elusive. “He lives on the corners,” noted The Post’s analyst Joel Sherman. “If he’s not getting strikes there, he becomes very hittable—especially against lefties.”

It’s not just Stroman. The Yankees are the only team in the majors yet to notch a quality start this season (defined as six innings pitched with three earned runs or fewer). As a result, the bullpen has been forced into heavy early-season usage, a trend that could wear down relievers by midseason if not corrected soon.

“You don’t want to burn out a bullpen in April,” the insider hinted at. “If your starters aren’t going six, your ‘pen is going to be shot by July.”

A crowded house, but Yankees thin on certainty

The Yankees opened their season with a promising 6-3 record, and while the offense has done enough to win games, the rotation has struggled to provide length. Stroman has been a key part of this equation, unable to consistently pitch deep into games. In a recent outing, he failed to complete five innings—continuing a worrying trend for a Yankees staff already short on arms with Gerrit Cole sidelined until late summer.

So far in 2025, no Yankees starter has recorded a quality start (at least six innings pitched and three earned runs or fewer), making them the only team in Major League Baseball without one as of May. Meanwhile, the bullpen has absorbed a disproportionate workload, an unsustainable formula as the long season grinds on.

“There’s a legitimate concern that without more length from the starters, especially guys like Stroman, the bullpen could get burned out by midseason,” noted The Post’s analyst Joel Sherman.

Stroman’s inconsistent form and ticking clock

Stroman signed with the Yankees on a two-year deal this past offseason, including a player option for 2026 that vests at 140 innings pitched. However, the front office may not be committed to getting him to that threshold—especially if his performance remains middling.

Through his first few starts, Stroman’s inability to escape jams and navigate deeper into lineups has stood out. He’s relying heavily on secondary pitches and command at the corners—traits that can be fragile without pinpoint precision. When he misses his spots, especially against left-handed hitters, the results have been damaging.

“He’s living off finesse,” one AL scout said. “And when he doesn’t get those borderline calls or leaves pitches in hittable zones, he’s very beatable.”

With Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt progressing in rehab and expected to return soon, the Yankees face tough decisions. Carlos Rodon and Max Fried are locked into the rotation. That leaves a fluid situation for the final spots, where Will Warren has also been tested, albeit with mixed results.

Meanwhile, Stroman’s lack of swing-and-miss stuff and inability to go deep into games has created further instability.

Yankees insiders suggest that if the rotation ever returns to full strength—Fried, Rodón, Gil, Schmidt, and even a healthy Cole—Stroman could find himself on the outside looking in.

“If everyone’s healthy, Stroman’s the odd man out,” Sherman remarked. “He’s got the least electric stuff, and you can’t run him out there every five days if he’s not giving you at least five or six solid innings.”

The 140-inning dilemma

While Stroman is being counted on to eat innings, whispers around the organization suggest the Yankees may quietly aim to keep him under the 140-inning vesting mark—if performance doesn’t improve. It’s a delicate balancing act: they need him now due to injuries, but they may not want to commit the salary and roster spot in 2026 if he doesn’t deliver.

“There’s probably an internal plan to limit his innings if the rotation stabilizes by midseason,” the insider indicated. “Injuries may delay it, but once Schmidt and Gil are healthy and producing, Stroman becomes the expendable one.”

The Yankees could limit Stroman’s innings via skipped starts, six-man rotations, or strategic placement on the IL if minor injuries crop up. And should a trade deadline acquisition materialize—as many around the league expect—the clock on Stroman’s time in the rotation may begin to wind down.

Yankees will be buyers—again

Sources inside the organization confirm the Yankees are actively scouting the trade market. With the starting pitching depth thin beyond the major league roster, the front office is preparing to pursue at least one starter—possibly more—by the July 31 trade deadline.

“There’s zero chance they make it to August without needing outside help,” one front office source said. “They’ll move early if the right arm becomes available.”

The Dodgers, Orioles, and Red Sox are also expected to be active in the starter market, making competition fierce. And with the Yankees holding a middle-tier farm system, they may have to overpay to land a high-impact arm.

Stroman can control the narrative—for now

The truth is, Stroman’s future remains in his own hands. If he regains form and begins pitching deeper into games with consistency, he could silence the critics and make himself indispensable—even as Cole returns and the rotation heals.

But right now, the signs point the other direction.

“If this is the version of Stroman the Yankees get all season,” Sherman observed, “it’s hard to see how he stays in a first-division team’s rotation through October.”

Stroman has stated repeatedly that he views himself as a long-term starter and expects to be treated as such. “I’m here to start games and help this team win,” he said earlier this month. “Whatever they need, I’m ready for it.”

Still, the reality is that the Yankees are in the business of winning—not managing contracts. And if Stroman’s outings continue to strain the bullpen and limit tactical flexibility, his role may shift—first to the bullpen, then perhaps off the roster altogether.

The Yankees are off to a strong start, but questions surrounding their rotation—especially Marcus Stroman—remain central to their midseason outlook. With reinforcements on the horizon and the trade market already being monitored, the clock is ticking on Stroman’s place in the Bronx rotation.

For now, he’ll have more chances to prove he belongs. But make no mistake—he’s under the microscope, and with every short outing, the odds of him being the odd man out grow stronger.

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