Every MLB team wants too many starting pitchers.
However, it remains a problem.
This offseason, the Atlanta Braves are not dealing with that issue. They have lost starting pitchers Max Fried and Charlie Morton to MLB free agency. However, to replace them, the Braves might look for a pitcher who may be falling out of favor in a rotation with too many arms.
On January 4, Newsweek’s Zach Pressnell suggested that the New York Yankees met that definition. With that in mind, Pressnell mentioned Yankees veteran Marcus Stroman as a possible trade candidate for the Braves.
“While Atlanta has some top pitching prospects, it needs to make a move for a big-league arm,” says Pressnell.
Atlanta may trade a couple fringe top-30 prospects to the Yankees to get Stroman off their hands. It would remove Stroman’s salary from the Yankees’ books while also providing Atlanta with a critically needed starter.
Stroman will enter the second year of his two-year, $37 million contract in 2025. He also has a vesting option for $18.33 million for the 2026 season.
That may be more than the Braves are ready to pay for a starting pitcher this offseason. Morton left for the Orioles on a one-year, $15 million contract. It’s unclear whether the Braves simply didn’t want Morton to return or wanted him for a lower salary, but Morton earned $20 million from Atlanta for the 2024 season.
Money aside, Stroman is the type of senior arm the Braves require in their rotation right now. Last year, he went 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA. He also struck out 113 batters and had a 1.468 WHIP across 154.2 innings.
These aren’t really eye-catching statistics. There’s a reason why Stroman may not make the Yankees’ starting rotation.
However, the Braves should be drawn to Stroman as a “innings eater.” He has thrown at least 135 innings in each of the last four seasons.
The losses of Fried and Morton reduced Atlanta’s rotation by more than 320 innings.
Stroman has over a decade of MLB pitching experience. He chose not to participate in the 2020 COVID-shortened season. Aside from that campaign, he has made at least 19 starts per year since 2015.
In 261 MLB appearances, Stroman has an 87-85 record and a 3.72 ERA. He was selected to the MLB All-Star squad in both 2019 and 2023.
Stroman also has postseason experience. He last pitched in the playoffs in 2016.
