Marcus Stroman is only 32 years old. He's a very good pitcher, albeit in a market eager to give a very good 32-year-old starting pitcher more than two years and $37 million guaranteed.
If nothing else, there would have been a financial war over Strawman's services. The lack of screams shows what an asset Strowman has become.
That the Yankees waited for a physical before agreeing to the deal speaks to how hard the Yankees have become as home to a mercurial player from the Bronx.
If this were a mathematical equation, it would read: “Despair and hopelessness are strange companions.”
The last time the Yankees strongly believed they would sign a star player from Japan and was turned down like Yoshinobu Yamamoto was six years ago. Shohei Otani was not even one of the seven finalists. The Yankees responded quickly by trading for Giancarlo Stanton, but it turned out to be a disappointing move.
This time I wasn't so reckless. First, they heard the volatile prices of Dylan Cease in a trade and Blake Snell in free agency. They learned that all things being equal Jordan Montgomery probably doesn't want to be a Yankee again. The Yanks were unable to acquire Yamamoto, their first, second, and third pitching options this offseason, because cost, medical costs, and prospects were not attractive anywhere else. further lamented.
So they ultimately decided they needed to start another veteran starting pitcher who they believed could pitch 150 quality innings. And Strowman's price was right. But its price is a statement. Remember, in this market, Frankie Montas received $16 million for one year and Stroman, an All-Star last season, agreed to $18.5 million for two years. The industry has been vocal, but not about what they think about pitcher Stroman.
Among Stroman's many problematic behaviors on social media was the feud he developed with Brian Cashman after the Yankees did not acquire him in 2019. The general manager said Stroman was not a “difference maker” and would be a postseason reliever as a Yankee. So let's not absolve Cashman of instigating this. In fact, he could have used Stroman in his rotation in the postseason, but in the end – if I remember correctly – he wasn't ready to let go of Clint Frazier just yet. They didn't acquire a pitcher.
But not letting things go to social media and making a bad thing worse is part of the straw man's repertoire. Interestingly, he completely erased his social media history during this negotiating season. And I fully expect Cashman and Stroman to find a public détente for their mutual benefit (hear about the amazing one-on-one dinner they had in blah, blah, blah) I can't wait).
I remember the Yankees despising Roger Clemens until they acquired him in February 1999. Derek Jeter, in particular, disliked Clemens' jaw-dropping musical style. But that spring, on the first day batters and pitchers faced off, Jeter and Chuck Knoblauch appeared. He will be in full gear for his match against Clemens. Everyone laughed. Everything went pretty well.
After the Yankees lost in the 2001 World Series, they reunited with David Wells, but Cashman and Joe Torre liked him about as much as the flu.
But those teams had great leadership infrastructure, championship pedigree, and a wealth of professional adults. That's not the case with today's Yankees. They didn't completely replace the leadership of CC Sabathia and Brett Gardner, though, as the Yanks are adding Stroman and Alex Verdugo in addition to Carlos Rodon to try to win Worst Actor in 2024. , this is necessary.
Perhaps after last season's disappointment and reputational reality, everyone will be on his best behavior and, more importantly, hope for the best. Victory is a great deodorant. And Stroman is a very good pitcher. Athletic and fierce ground ball machine.
He provides more certainty behind Gerrit Cole and even questionable Rodon and Nestor Cortes. This pushes Clark Schmidt to the No. 5 starter and Will Warren and Clayton Beater to depth, while also allowing the Yankees to feel more comfortable determining whether the price drops to Cease, Snell, or someone else. I was able to further refine this proactiveness. squad.
It was all for the right price for Strowman — for too many of the wrong reasons.
