Yankees trade rumors running wild after Marcus Stroman's latest social media activity

Do you smell that? That's a trade brewin'. The fresh scent of Brian Cashman's army of interns sending a fax over to an opposing front office. Is the New York Yankees offseason about the start back up again with some key additions before Opening Day?

Marcus Stroman has been the subject of trade rumors the moment the Yankees lost the World Series. And it's not his fault. This is 100% on the Yankees. We'll get to that in a moment.

But in order for the Yankees to make transactions comfortably without exceeding the dreaded Steve Cohen Tax ($301 million payroll figure), it's been reported moving off Stroman's salary will be the only way to get the train rolling again.

Stroman is making $18 million in 2025 and will activate a player option (another $18 million for 2026) if he pitches in 140 or more innings this coming season. That dollar figure likely would've been acceptable in the Yankees' eyes had the right-hander not fully collapsed in the second half of 2024.

And now it appears as if we're moving closer toward a resolution on this front. Stroman, per social media sleuths, has unfollowed the Yankees on Instagram, which could mean a trade is in the works (or at least the conversations are progressing towards a deal happening).

Marcus Stroman unfollows Yankees on social media and spurs trade rumors

Stroman is known for his social media activity, which includes previous public spats with ... the Yankees. That's why everybody was so confused when the two sides reached an agreement last offseason. Years and years of resentment were all of a sudden swept under the rug after a single face-to-face conversation? Ok then.

But the Yankees chose the wrong consolation prize after failing to land Blake Snell. There's no denying Stroman's abilities as a pitcher. Contrary to what the critics have been babbling this offseason, he's very good. He struggles with consistency and longevity, but he's carved out a nice career for himself and has been valued in multiple places.

What the Yankees apparently didn't take into account, however, is the fact that Stroman pitches to contact. So, putting him on the mound in front of a putrid defense turned out to be a shortsighted decision that had them regretting the transaction just a few months in. If the Yankees had an average defense and if Stroman's workload was managed properly, perhaps this isn't even a conversation right now. Perhaps he'd be a valued asset heading into 2025 if the right buttons were pushed.

But instead, here we are, on January 28, writing about a petty unfollow on social media that might foreshadow a trade. Wait, are we sure Stroman ever followed the Yankees in the first place? Might want to go back and check that to see if we're actually on to something ...