No one is more critical of the New York Yankees than New York Yankees fans, which is why they are usually very quick to defend their team when opposing fans or outside pundits spout nonsense.
Of course, some fanatics are delusional, but if you watch all 162 games, you usually know what you’re talking about. When MLB.com recently published an article asking executives about the best and worst free agent signings, Yankees fans were ready to protest after reading it.
According to the anonymous executives, Marcus Stroman was one of the players voted for as the “most problematic free agent signings,” along with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jung Hoo Lee, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jeimer Candelario, Lucas Giolito and Mitch Garver. The top picks of the group, however, were Jordan Montgomery and Cody Bellinger.
Um, excuse me? Even before Stroman’s last two brilliant performances, such an assessment couldn’t be less accurate. When you compare Stroman’s two-year, $37 million contract to the other candidates, this shouldn’t even be an issue.
Every single one of these other players is either injured, makes a lot more money, or doesn’t provide much to their teams from a value perspective. Stroman, on the other hand, who is a steal for a starting pitcher, is 8-6 with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.5 WAR. Yes, his 5.01 FIP and 1.38 WHIP can be considered “issues,” but he has gotten the Yankees off to a good start 33% of the time he’s been on the field.
Which free-agent contracts will prove to be the best of 2024? Executives re-evaluate the offseason’s biggest free-agent deals https://t.co/EPqWvPKxZ7
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) 15 August 2024
Just say you don’t like the Yankees! That’s totally fine and we understand. But you can’t compare Stroman’s impact and influence to that of Montgomery (6.25 ERA, -1.3 WAR), Yamamoto ($325 million and long-term injury concerns), Eduardo Rodriguez ($20 million salary, two starts and worse career stats) and Lucas Giolito ($19.5 million for never throwing a pitch).
And that’s just the pitchers! We don’t need to go through those outfielders because it’s not even worth our time. They weren’t worth the money and provided virtually no improvement.
In the Yankees’ case, Stroman has brought a veteran presence and stability to a shaky rotation over the past few years, handling the New York spotlight admirably and neutralizing some of the game’s most talented offenses.
Are we supposed to sit here and say the game was flawless? Not at all. There were many moments where fans expressed their concern and frustration. But that’s the stress of a baseball season.
Considering Stroman’s reasonable salary, impeccable health and ability to play high-pressure games, the $18.5 million price tag is absolutely reasonable. And not to mention that the third year of the contract only comes into effect if he plays to his full potential in 2024 and 2025.
It’s a short-term, low-risk pact that should be viewed as one of the smartest decisions in free agency last season, but it seems Brian Cashman has more enemies than we previously thought.
