Marcus Stroman Claims He's Better Than Half The Yankees Rotation
Marcus Stroman of the New York Mets made the All-Star team for the first time in 2019, but it seems he's already fishing for a move to a more competitive club. He recently claimed that his Subway Series rivals, the New York Yankees, need more--and better--pitchers. The Yankees made an early postseason exit after falling to the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS.
Stroman's a free agent, so his outspoken attitude shouldn't surprise anyone. He's also right that the Yankees failed on the mound in 2020, but that doesn't mean he's the answer.
Stroman asserts that no current Yankee has a better projected future than he does, and he may have a point. Deivi Garcia, the 21-year-old right-hander, emerged as a candidate to slot behind ace Gerrit Cole, but even the Yankees don't believe in him just yet. He started Game 2 of the Division Series against Tampa, but manager Aaron Boone pulled him after just one inning.
Many Yankees staffers may rave about the future of the Yankee rotation, with Garcia and Clarke Schmidt prepared to contribute in 2021, but the Yankees frankly haven't developed big game starters yet. Stroman may not be an ace, but with an All-Star appearance under his belt, he has reached a level no homegrown Yankee hurler has.
Though Stroman doesn't want to burn any bridges in New York, Brooklyn or otherwise, he's stated before that he would welcome the chance to wear the pinstripes.
"I don't hold grudges ever. I'm open to compete wherever next year," Stroman said.
Yankees Rotation
Aside from Gerrit Cole, the bombers usually craft their roster by signing free agents. Rarely do they rely on developing players from their farm system. Masahiro Tanaka, J. A. Happ and James Paxton all came from outside their organization. Now that the trio are all free agents who may leave in the offseason, the Yankees need to find new heavyweights for their 2021 roster.
According to Marcus Stroman, Luis Severino is the only homegrown pitcher that GM Brian Cashman has, but Severino is still recovering from Tommy John surgery earlier this year. So Cashman should focus on the rest of their arms. Stroman sees himself as a possible band-aid in a rotation of young up-and-comers who may or may not make meaningful contributions sometime soon.
He's already shown he can pitch in New York, so why wouldn't Stroman consider himself an answer for the Yanks?
NL Cy Young finalist Sonny Gray came into New York and shrunk under the lights of New York City. The 5-foot-9 Marcus Stroman knows he was built for the accountability Yankees fans expect from their players.
He's doing nothing but challenge the Yankees' front office to find a spot for him in a rotation that failed in the postseason this year. Even if they don't ultimately sign him, having the Yankees at least bid for him would help Stroman negotiate a better price with another organization. Like the Babe before him, Stroman has called his shot. Let's see how the Yankees react.