New York Yankees: Marcus Stroman fires back at front office

After seeing a quote from New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman that said he was not a difference maker, Marcus Stroman had some words of his own.

The New York Yankees finished yet another disappointing season as once again, they failed to return to the World Series, their last appearance coming in 2009. However, this offseason has a great deal of uncertainty, as they will have multiple openings in the rotation and a potential mandate to cut their overall salary.

If the latter is the case, then finding bargains in free agency would be essential. One such bargain would be Marcus Stroman, although Yankees general manager Brian Cashman does not seem to be a fan. His statement that Stroman is not a ‘difference maker’ caught the pitcher’s attention, who fired back.

With his next tweet, Stroman acknowledged that he forgot Luis Severino, another pitcher who, when healthy, has the potential to dominate. That duo of Gerrit Cole and Severino will certainly help the Yankees in their quest to finally return to the World Series.

But they still need to find more arms. Masahiro Tanaka may be about to depart in free agency. J.A. Happ and James Paxton were gone the second the season ended. While Deivi Garcia is seemingly a lock to take one of those openings, the Yankees need another arm that they can count on.

Stroman could be that pitcher. While he has had his ups and downs over the course of his career, he has been a solid option, posting a 3.76 ERA and a 1.292 WHiP in 849.2 innings, striking out 695 batters with 244 walks. He also has familiarity with the AL East from his time in Toronto, and has proven that he can get those hitters out.

If that budgetary mandate is accurate, then Stroman would check off another box as well. Since he opted out of the 2020 season, and had been on the Injured List before doing so, he would likely be one of the more affordable options in free agency. Stroman could, in fact, prove to be the biggest bargain out there.

But this all hinges on whether or not the Yankees have interest in his services. Based on Cashman’s comments, they do not value him as one of the premier options available. However, that does not change the fact that they could use an arm such as his in the middle of their rotation.

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman does not think that Marcus Stroman is a difference maker. That was all Stroman needed to have some words of his own.