Yankees: Marcus Stroman sure sounds like he wants to be traded to New York

Before Monday night’s game in the Bronx Blue Jay’s ace and New York native Marcus Stroman met with local media where he discussed the possibility of being traded before the July 31st deadline. The Yankees are one of the many teams interested in acquiring Stroman and it sounds like he would welcome a trade back home.

Stroman grew up in Long Island, New York and even though he loves the city of Toronto and the Blue Jay’s organization he knows there’s a good chance he’ll be traded in the coming weeks. He also knows that the Yankees need to add a starting pitcher before the deadline and that he could be an ideal fit in the Bronx.

When asked if he wanted to pitch for the Yankees Stroman had no comment but he let it be known that he’s built to pitch under the bright lights of New York City. Per Dan Martin of the New York Post:

“Anybody can say whatever, but I’m built for the bright lights. I’m not scared of it. I’ve never been. I take that ball each and every time with the pressure on. I love it.’’

During his most recent start on Sunday against the defending champs in Boston Stroman delivered under pressure with a six-inning gem, allowing no runs and striking out six. It was the type of performance you know the Yankee front office paid close attention to and one that should only increase their interest in adding him to their starting staff. Obviously, there’s a lot more pressure pitching in New York during October than there is pitching at Fenway on a Sunday in June, but Stroman proved that he can shut down one of the best lineups in baseball.

On the season the 28-year-old is now 5-9, with a 3.04 ERA and a WHIP of 1.25. His ground ball rate of 57.9% is best in baseball among starting pitchers who have pitched at least 100 innings. He’s allowed nine home runs but all of them have been given up in Toronto which bodes well for him if he were traded to another team such as the Yankees.

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Personally, I’d prefer the Yanks acquired a guy like Madison Bumgarner because of his postseason pedigree but if the cost to get Mad-bum is Clint Frazier that’s not going to happen. Landing Stroman in a trade instead seems much more likely at the moment and unlike Bumgarner, he’s under team control past this season, through 2020.

We’ll have to wait and see how things play out but it sure seems like Stroman would be more than okay with being traded back home to play for the Yankees and why wouldn’t he be? The Blue Jays aren’t going anywhere this season or next season while the Yanks are set to contend for a championship now and for years to come.

Stroman might not be a clear cut ace who’d put the Yankees over the top as World Series favorites but he’d certainly be a big piece of the puzzle who could help them get there. Given the mutual interest between both sides, trading for him makes a ton of sense and at this point, I’d be surprised if we don’t see him in pinstripes before next month’s deadline.