Yankees let Marcus Stroman go to clear space for trade deadline additions

Yankees Release Marcus Stroman to Make Room for New Pitchers

The New York Yankees announced the release of starting pitcher Marcus Stroman on Friday. At 34 years old, Stroman was let go to accommodate new pitchers acquired at the trade deadline.

The Yankees recently added three players to their roster: David Bednar, a two-time All-Star from the Pittsburgh Pirates; Kamiro Doval, an All-Star from the San Francisco Giants; and Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies.

Bednar, 30, had an impressive 2.37 ERA with 17 saves over 38 games for the Pirates. Meanwhile, 28-year-old Doval posted a 3.09 ERA with 15 saves across 46.2 innings, while the 26-year-old Bird pitched to a 4.73 ERA in 53.1 innings.

Following a 7-4 win against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees cleared two spots on their roster, featuring relief pitchers Yerry de los Santos and Ian Hamilton, who may join the minor leagues. Stroman’s release now opens up a third spot, permitting the team to incorporate all their recent acquisitions.

In his last game for the Yankees, Stroman secured a victory after pitching five innings and allowing four runs. He made nine starts this season, battling injuries, and in those games, he achieved a 3-2 record with a 6.23 ERA over 39 innings.

The Yankees had signed Stroman to a two-year deal before the 2024 season, which included an $18 million player option for 2026 if he threw 140 innings in 2025.

Across two seasons with the Yankees, Stroman appeared in 39 games, holding a 4.69 ERA and a 13-11 record. Although the team had the option to promote young pitcher Cam Schlittler due to promising performances, they ultimately opted to release Stroman instead.

At 24, Schlittler has impressed in his three starts, consistently reaching the late 90s with his fastball and occasionally hitting 100 miles per hour. This season, he has a 4.91 ERA to go along with a 1-1 record in 14.2 innings and 15 strikeouts.

The current Yankees starting rotation features Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Lewis Gill (who is set to make his season debut after injury), Will Warren, and Schlittler. The Yankees, with a record of 60-49, will face the Miami Marlins next, who currently sit at 52-55.