Is Marcus Stroman A Good Option?

by Paul Semendinger

January 10, 2024

***

It seems there are a host of conflicting reports on Marcus Stroman...

Some say he's interested in the Yankees, but the Yankees are not interested in him.

Some say there is a mutual interest from both parties.

Who knows the truth? The bigger question is...

Should the Yankees actually consider signing Marcus Stroman?

The Good:

• Stroman's career ERA+ is 116. For his career, he's been a better than average pitcher.

• In his nine-year career, Stroman has had an ERA+ under 100 only twice, in 2016 and 2018. In short, that's a nice career, thus far. On a year-to-year basis, and in every season since 2018, he's been an above-average pitcher. There is value in that.

• In every season since 2018, he had put up a positive WAR as well.

• The Yankees need someone who they can rely on to give them starts, Stroman does that. In every season beginning in 2019 (he sat out the 2020 season) Stroman has given his team at least 25 starts.

• Stroman strikes out just about 8 batters for every 9 innings pitched.

• His lifetime ERA of 3.65 is solid

The Not-So-Good

• For the last few years, Stroman, entering his age-33 season, has regressed. His ERA is trending up:

  • 2021 = 3.03

  • 2022 = 3.50

  • 2023 = 3.95

• His innings pitched are going down:

  • 2021 = 179

  • 2022 = 138.2

  • 2023 = 136.2

• He didn't have a great second half last year. In the first half, batters hit .205 against him. In the second half, they batted .327!

• Many people state that pitchers wins don't matter and that most of the time a win is out of the pitcher's control (in large part). While that has some truth to that, great pitchers tend to win games. Stroman doesn't. In recent years, the following are his wins and losses:

  • 2019: 10-13

  • 2021: 10-13

  • 2022: 6-7

  • 2023: 10-9

My Thoughts:

I haven't followed Stroman's career all that closely, but he seems to be a player who brings a level of controversy with him. In the past, he has besmirched the Yankees according to some reports. Now, supposedly, he wants to pitch for them. Might that be because no other team wants him?

Marcus Stroman could be acquired, it seems, on a one-year deal. If this occurred, in essence, he'd be pitching for his future, and at 33-years-old, he would have to be focused on being great because it is likely is best years are behind him and if he wants to keep playing, he'll need to be good. (I wouldn't sign him for more than one year considering his second half last year.)

Stroman is a solid pitcher, he's as good a pitcher as a team could reasonably hope for as their #5 guy.

All-in-all, it seems to be a complete mixed bag.

If the Yankees acquire Stroman after they sign or trade for another quality starting pitcher, I wouldn't hate seeing what he can do on a "prove-it" deal. But, I would much prefer the following pitchers (all rumored to be available) before seeking to acquire Marcus Stroman:

Blake Snell

Corbin Burnes

Jesus Luzardo

Shane Bieber

Dylan Cease

(Yes, Jordan Montgomery, too, but I can't see him returning.)

Bottom line - the Yankees need to go for it in 2024. In order to win, they need quality pitching. They haven't gotten it yet. Expecting Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes to both bounce back is expecting a lot. Expecting Clarke Schmidt to do what he did last year after he threw so many innings -more than he ever had - is expecting a lot. Counting on a rookie to make the rotation and pitch well is expecting even more. A case man be made that the Yankees could use three starting pitchers, but it's clear to me they need at least two. I'd rather one of those two not be Marcus Stroman...

If all the other options are exhausted and unavailable, than, sure, he'd be fine. The Yankees have to do more than fine though. Two years ago, Stroman would have been a good pitcher to gamble on. Today, seeing how his career is trending - not so much.

The Yankees can do better - more, they have to do better.