Yankees' Marcus Stroman reportedly breaks own signing with throwback IG post

What better source on a potential Marcus Stroman signing with the Yankees than Stroman himself?

Moments after the Yankees signed Juan Soto to a record one-year deal and settled all their arbitration-eligible contracts, Stroman took to Instagram to post back-to-back photos reflecting the "sincere" interest Jack Curry hinted at earlier in the evening.

First came Stroman as a child, posing with his father in a Yankees sweatshirt. Then came a photoshop job of the right-hander wearing the pinstripes on the mound.

What came next felt inevitable, but was still jarring to read after the events of 2019 to present: Stroman and the Yankees were reportedly close to a contractual agreement. Add in the Yankees' reported offer to Blake Snell earlier in the day, and this team seems quite serious about bulking up the rotation (as promised).

Yankees reportedly sign Marcus Stroman after not-very-cryptic post

20 minutes later, this missive was confirmed by Jeff Passan. It's happening.

According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees and Snell were far apart after New York's initial overtures, which Bob Nightengale confirmed took place on Thursday. Needless to say, though, if the Yankees were close on Stroman while they were offering a contract proposal to Snell, it doesn't feel as if they're choosing between one or the other.

Stroman, who seemed quite hurt not to have been wanted by the Yankees in 2019 ("Join the club." - Jordan Montgomery), is coming off an All-Star season with an uncharacteristically poor second half (8.63 ERA in eight injury-marred outings). His FIP has held relatively steady across the last three seasons, though (3.49, 3.76, 3.58).

The former AL East foe is not a proven co-ace for Gerrit Cole, but there's value in his profile with a solid infield behind him, which the Yankees can provide. More on this situation as it develops, with a keen eye on the contract length and what might come next.

UPDATE: That was quick. Joel Sherman reported the deal is two years with a (vesting) option for a third at approximately $18.5 million per season. The option vests if he passes 140 innings in Year 2, per SNY's Andy Martino. That's less than he was making in Chicago on the deal he opted out of, but on the plus side, it makes the kid in the sweatshirt very happy.