Yankees Land All-Star Starter With Two-Year Deal

The New York Yankees claimed another starter for their rotation when they agreed to a deal with a two-time All-Star on Thursday.

The New York Yankees have their fifth starter.

Per multiple reports, the Yankees agreed to a deal with pitcher Marcus Stroman. Per The New York Post, Stroman agreed to a two-year deal for $37 million. The option year is a vesting option. Stroman turned down $21 million from the Cubs.

Stroman’s deal came soon after the Yankees made outfielder Juan Soto the highest-paid arbitration player in history, as they agreed to pay him $31 million for the 2024 season.

Stroman was testing free agency after opting out of the final year of his deal with the Chicago Cubs. The agreement brings him back to the Big Apple. He played for the New York Mets from 2019-21.

Stroman joins a rotation led by reigning American League Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. The rest of the rotation projects to be Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes and Clarke Schmidt.

Stroman had a distinct first half and second half of last season for the Cubs, where he was at one point their ace and by season’s end in the bullpen.

In the first half of last season, the right-hander went 9-6 with a 2.19 ERA in 19 starts, striking out 98 and walking 41. That led to his selection to the All-Star Game for the second time.

Then, in the second half things went south. as he went 1-3 in eight appearances (six starts) with a 8.63 ERA in 24 innings.

A hip injury put him on the injured list in early August, followed by an unusual injury for a pitcher, a right rib cartilage fracture. He returned in early September and worked out of the bullpen as the Cubs were fighting for a playoff berth.

For his career, Stroman has a record of 77-76 with a 3.45 ERA.