Here’s why Marcus Stroman is no longer an option for the Yankees

The Yankees now probably aren’t even going to bother with Marcus Stroman.

We still don’t really know what the New York Yankees are going to do in free agency or the trade market, so anything is possible until we get an indication of their plans. But based on commentary from general manager Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner, it’s hard to envision the team splurging beyond keeping their own impending free agents.

That’s why starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, who is a free agent this offseason, never really seemed to be top target for the front office. And now, after the New York Mets presented him with the $18.9 million qualifying offer, Yankees fans can officially kiss this potential match goodbye.

There’s no way Cashman is going to spend big for the right-hander AND surrender a top draft pick to the Mets during these troubling financial times. That hurts the team in two areas.

In case you were unaware, any team that signs a player who rejected the qualifying offer owes the player’s former team a top pick in the upcoming draft. And you can bet the Yankees front office doesn’t think Stroman is that valuable, especially since many feel he’ll be shooting for the stars in free agency.

And truth be told, Stroman should probably be accepting the offer since he actually needs to rebuild his value. For some reason, he thinks teams will be lining up to sign him during the current circumstances when that’s far from a guarantee.

The right-hander has a career 3.76 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, and pretty much delivered just that in his short stint with the Mets before opting out of the 2020 season. You mean to tell us another team is going to give him a lucrative multi-year deal and surrender a first-round draft pick for a guy who hasn’t pitched since Sept. of 2019, and battled injury in the interim?

It’s just not in the cards, Yankees fans. Stroman is certainly an intriguing option for the starting rotation, but the factors surrounding his free agent status couldn’t be less conducive to New York’s offseason plans.

Let it go. Time to focus elsewhere.

Yankees: Does Zack Britton return signal Aroldis Chapman trade?

With the return of reliever Zack Britton, are the New York Yankees now contemplating trading closer Aroldis Chapman this offseason?