The New York Yankees face a crucial offseason as they attempt to rebuild and improve their roster for the 2025 season. After falling short in the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers, the Yanks know they need to make strategic moves to remain competitive, particularly in the stacked American League East.
One potential move gaining traction involves trading a starting pitcher, who is owed $37 million, to the Washington Nationals. If this trade were to go through, it would be a significant step in the New York Yankees’ efforts to reset their roster while maintaining competitiveness in the coming seasons.
Will Yankees Trade Marcus Stroman?
In a recent proposal by The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner, the New York Yankees would send Marcus Stroman, along with $6 million in cash and infielder Jorbit Vivas, to the Nationals in exchange for versatile utility player Juan Yepez. Stroman, who was left off the Yanks’ postseason roster, struggled to make a significant impact in 2024 and has become a trade candidate as the team looks to shed payroll and make room for potential new signings. Stroman’s high salary has been a point of contention for the Yankees, especially after a season that saw him struggle with consistency. While he posted a solid ERA of 3.65 during the regular season, his performance in high-leverage situations, particularly in the postseason, left much to be desired.
The New York Yankees are clearly looking to move on from his $37 million deal and avoid further risk, especially with younger arms like Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt emerging as viable starting options. In return, the Bombers would acquire Juan Yepez, a 26-year-old utility player who has experience playing in both the infield and outfield. Yepez, who has shown flashes of power with a career 13 home runs and 35 RBIs in limited action with the St. Louis Cardinals, would provide depth and flexibility to New York’s roster. His versatility as a bench option could be valuable, especially if the Yanks need to fill spots in the outfield or first base. This trade proposal would allow the Yankees to save $8.5 million in 2025. For Washington, Stroman’s experience and steady presence in the rotation would be a welcome addition as they aim to bolster their pitching depth.
Yanks’ Gung-Ho’ About Pursuing Juan Soto in Free Agency
The race for Juan Soto is heating up. After the Los Angeles Dodgers claimed the 2024 World Series title, they joined a growing list of teams vying for Soto’s services. Alongside the Dodgers, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays are all in the hunt to land the superstar outfielder.
According to The New York Post’s Jon Heyman, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and his baseball operations team are “gung-ho” about bringing Soto to New York, making him their top priority for the winter. This level of commitment comes after Soto’s stellar 2024 season, where he hit 41 home runs, posted a .989 OPS, and played a pivotal role in leading the team to their first World Series appearance in 15 years.
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