New York Yankees pitcher has sparked speculation about his future by purging his Instagram account of all posts and setting his profile picture to a dark horse. This social media move coincides with swirling trade rumors involving the two-time All-Star as the 2025 MLB season approaches.
Top star is owed $18.3 million for the upcoming season and has a vesting option for 2026, is not an inexpensive trade target. However, if the Yankees were to cover a portion of his salary, he could become a viable option for teams seeking starting pitching. His name has been frequently mentioned in trade discussions, with multiple reports suggesting the Yankees are actively shopping him.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale recently stated, “They (the Yankees) are actively trying to deal starter Marcus Stroman and clear his $18 million salary.” Similarly, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported that the Yankees are willing to pay down Stroman’s salary to facilitate a trade.
ESPN’s Buster Olney also weighed in, noting that there is widespread belief that Stroman will be moved eventually: “There is an assumption among other teams that Jordan Montgomery and Marcus Stroman will move at some point, but there are execs who believe that won’t happen until the Diamondbacks and Yankees agree to swallow a lot of money to make a deal happen.” Olney highlighted that Stroman’s vesting option—triggered by throwing 140 innings in 2025, which would give him a player option worth $18.3 million for 2026—further complicates trade talks.
Stroman joined the Yankees last offseason on a two-year, $37 million deal but struggled in his debut season in The Bronx. He posted a 4.31 ERA over 29 starts and one relief appearance, marking his highest ERA since 2018. Despite the Yankees’ run to the World Series, Stroman did not pitch in the postseason as they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.
While the Yankees appear open to parting ways with Stroman, it seems a trade won’t happen until they agree to absorb part of his salary. Stroman’s recent social media activity has fueled speculation that a move could be imminent, potentially signaling the end of his tenure with the
Yankees.
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