Marcus Stroman may be returning to New York.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported Wednesday that the Yankees have emerged as the top candidate to sign the right-hander and that the two parties have had “productive discussions” in recent days.
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Stroman, a Long Island native, opted out of his three-year $71 million contract with the Cubs after two seasons to become a free agent. In his time in Chicago, he posted a 3.73 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and 238 strikeouts in 275 1/3 innings. He missed six weeks in 2023 with hip and rib injuries.
Around the 2019 trade deadline, when Stroman ended up with the Mets, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he did not think Stroman would be a “difference-maker” and would be in the bullpen by the postseason. Stroman did not forget and wrote some now-deleted tweets about the organization.
“Besides Cole, there’s no current Yankee pitcher who will be anywhere in my league over the next 5-7 years,” Stroman wrote in 2021, per the New York Post. “Their pitching always folds in the end. That lineup and payroll should be winning World Series’ left and right…yet they’re in a drought. Lol.”
The Mets let Stroman walk when he was a free agent after the 2021 season before he signed with the Cubs. After that, he criticized former Mets manager Billy Eppler.
“Just look at who the Mets hired as their GM…that tells you enough,” he wrote in a since-deleted tweet in February 2022, per The New York Post. “His lack of awareness in his previous position is being exposed to the public now. I’m beyond thankful I’m gone from that organization. God got me!”
While playing the Mets this year, Stroman left the mound while pounding his chest and yelling into the visitor’s dugout, which left one anonymous Mets player saying, “Show some respect,” per The New York Post.
Stroman hyped Yankee Stadium to the Toronto Sun in 2019.
“I’m built for (Yankee Stadium),” he said. “Anybody can say whatever, but I’m built for the bright lights and the moment. I’m not scared of it. I’ll never be. I love it.”
