New York Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman has insisted that he would not pitch out of the bullpen. It seems that Stroman may get his wish after all.
Stroman will likely replace Luis Gil in the Yankees’ rotation, after the latter recently suffered a shoulder injury. The team’s manager, Aaron Boone, told reporters Friday that Gil, the current American League Rookie of the Year, will undergo an MRI on Saturday.
“You know you’re going to face some wear and tear somewhere,” Boone said.
“Hopefully it’s not something too serious (with Gil), but it also seems like something that’s going to cost us some time there,” Boone added, according to the Yankees‘ official website. “We’ll see what we have.”
Stroman should expect to be included in the rotation
Stroman totaled a 4.31 ERA in 30 games (29 starts) last season, opening the season as a reliever.
Stroman reported to camp after a brief absence and told reporters he did not see himself as a reliever. The Yankees intended to use Stroman, a two-time All-Star, out of the bullpen after signing former Atlanta Braves star Max Fried.
Selfishly, Stroman should hope he is included in the rotation and that Gil does not return soon. The Yankees owe Stroman $18 million this season, and he would be guaranteed another $18 million for 2026 if he pitches 140 innings.
Stroman pitched 154.2 innings last year. He has never been a full-time reliever in the majors.
Alternatively, the Yankees could turn to Carlos Carrasco or Will Warren as possible replacements for Gil. Carrasco, the veteran workhorse of the Cleveland Guardians, is in camp on a minor league contract after going 6-18 with an awful 6.18 ERA over the last two seasons.
Warren went 0-3 with a 10.32 ERA in six games (five starts) last year. However, he opened spring training with seven strikeouts in five scoreless innings.
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