Mar 2, 2025; North Port, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (0) looks on on the mound after he gave up back to back home runs during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

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Marcus Stroman falls short in first chance to step up after Luis Gil’s injury

In a season where nothing is guaranteed for Marcus Stroman, he didn't help his case

For starters, this one is mostly on the Yankees. You don’t make a player feel so visibly unwanted that there’s absolutely zero security. Marcus Stroman has been dangling on the trade block all offseason, with the Yankees actively looking to unload his $18.5 million contract in pursuit of a third baseman. This was before Luis Gil’s injury news. Now, they’ll be relieved they didn’t make the move, not that they deserve any credit for it.

It’s not easy to perform at your highest level in any sport without backing and security. This has been true across sports, across teams, across eras. So how much blame does an underperforming, probably unsettled Marcus Stroman really deserve?

Let’s not forget: the Yankees threw Stroman into the bullpen late last season, something he made very clear wouldn’t happen again. “I’m a starter,” he declared to the media. Per the Associated Press, he repeated those three words seven times in a 13-second span when asked if he’d consider pitching out of the bullpen again. A fair response given how he was treated, but one that led to some Yankees fans calling him selfish and not a “team player.”

That’s a critique I can’t really get behind. MLB is a ruthless business. Teams will toss a player aside in a heartbeat if it suits them (just as the Yankees were planning to do), so if you don’t look out for yourself, you’ll get crushed. Marcus Stroman is simply ensuring that doesn’t happen.

Marcus Stroman’s rough start last night

Last night’s game against the Atlanta Braves was the perfect opportunity for Stroman to step up with Gil’s injury hanging over the Yankees’ rotation. Instead, it was a rough outing all around.

Stroman's day is done after building his pitch count up to 43 across 2 2/3 innings.
— Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) March 2, 2025

The Yankees lost, 11-1. Stroman got the start but didn’t make it through three innings. He lasted just 2.2 frames, giving up four hits, three earned runs, and two home runs. He struck out one. This followed a solid start to spring training when he tossed a scoreless inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on Feb. 21, but last night, it was Austin Riley and Matt Olson who jumped on him early with first-inning solo shots. Riley then tagged him again in the third with an RBI double before another run came home under Stroman’s watch.

Austin Riley takes Marcus Stroman deep pic.twitter.com/ZV9ZMw8j1H
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 2, 2025

His spring ERA now sits at 9.82, not that spring training numbers mean much.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are still waiting for a concrete update on Luis Gil. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year had to leave a bullpen session a few days ago and was sent for an MRI. The rotation picture is suddenly shaky, and Stroman could have used this moment to make a case for himself. But to his credit, he wasn’t thinking about that.

“Yeah, man, that’s one of my guys,” Stroman said mid-game. “I’m a huge fan of Luis. It sucks. Man, I don’t even know what to say to put it in words.”

“He was a huge part of this team last year. Incredible, incredible, incredible season, and we’re gonna need him at some point in order to go where we want.”

Stroman reiterated that his only priority is making sure he’s physically and mentally ready to make 30-plus starts.

ALSO READ: Giancarlo Stanton injury update: Yankees star to miss opening day, start season on IL

That’s what Stroman has always been, a workhorse when given the opportunity. In the first half of last season, his Yankees debut year, he was outstanding: 6-2 with a 2.82 ERA through June 11. He slumped hard in the second half, finishing 4-7 with a 5.88 ERA over his final 16 outings. His struggles cost him his rotation spot in September. He didn’t pitch in the ALDS, ALCS, or World Series.

ALSO READ: DJ LeMahieu latest casualty as Yankees’ injury concerns intensify

The Yankees may not be completely sold on Stroman, but given how things are unfolding, they might not have a choice. Whether they like it or not, Marcus Stroman could end up being an important piece in their 2025 season.

Luis Gil

Marcus Stroman

Yankees

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.