Marcus Stromans $18 million salary making it hard for Yankees to fill holes

Last January, Marcus Stroman represented the Yankees’ biggest free-agent signing of the month. This January came and went without the club signing anyone to a major league contract, and while part of that is because of a slower-moving free-agent market for the areas the Yankees need to address, it also could have to do with them not yet finding a team to take Stroman and at least some of his salary off their hands. The right-hander currently projects as the club’s No.6 starter, and while the Yankees are always trying to make sure they have enough pitching, Stroman’s $18 million salary is a hefty price tag as they hover just above the highest luxury tax threshold ($301 million) — with Cot’s Contracts estimating them to be at $302.9 million. The Yankees still have a few holes to fill before pitchers and catchers report to Tampa on Feb.

11 — notably a lefty reliever, an infielder to play third base or second base and perhaps a backup catcher — but it remains to be seen whether they will be able to find a home for Stroman before then.And while it would only take one spring training injury to a member of the Yankees’ rotation to thrust Stroman back into the fold, an injury elsewhere could potentially open the door for a trade partner emerging. The 33-year-old Stroman is coming off a season in which he posted a 4.31 ERA across 154 ²/₃ inning — including a 3.15 ERA over his first 16 starts before pitching to a 5.97 ERA over his final 14 outings (13 starts), a span in which opposing batters hit .341 with a .867 OPS.

The Yankees moved Stroman to the bullpen by September before leaving him off the ALDS roster.He was on both the ALCS and World Series rosters as a reliever but did not appear in a game. As things currently stand, the market for Stroman appears limited, especially with the likes of Jack Flaherty, Nick Pivetta, Kyle Gibson, Jose Quintana, Andrew Heaney and Lance Lynn still available in free agency — and potentially Dylan Cease via tr...