The New York Yankees entered the 2025 season with high hopes and even higher expectations, especially when it came to their pitching staff. Among the biggest storylines was the future of Marcus Stroman, a seasoned veteran brought in to provide stability and star power to a rotation desperate for both. With a hefty contract and a pivotal vesting option looming, Stroman’s performance and health were always going to be under the microscope.

But as the season has unfolded, the narrative has taken a dramatic and unexpected turn. Instead of debating his impact on the mound or speculating about postseason heroics, Yankees fans and baseball insiders alike have been forced to confront a far more sobering reality: the persistent shadow of injury. Each update, each setback, has chipped away at the optimism that once surrounded Stroman’s tenure in pinstripes.

Now, as questions mount and timelines blur, the conversation has shifted yet again. What does Stroman’s latest injury mean for the Yankees’ long-term plans? How will this twist affect their roster, payroll, and championship aspirations? One thing is certain—the story of Marcus Stroman and the Yankees is far from over, but it’s heading in a direction few could have predicted.

Marcus Stroman’s latest injury setback effectively gets Yankees out of contract

Well, guess that played out the way it was supposed to, we guess.

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Heading into the 2025 season, a big topic of conversation among New York Yankees fans was Marcus Stroman’s contract. The veteran has an $18 million vesting option for 2026, which kicks in if he pitches in 140 or more innings this year.

Well, that conversation’s over. Because there’s almost no conceivable way for Stroman to achieve that after his latest injury setback.

The right-hander was placed on the injured list with a knee issue exactly one month ago on April 12. Since then, he’s received cortisone injections that have seemingly only acted as a temporary band-aid in the short term. Stroman ended up graduating from bullpen sessions to a simulated game, but the pain isn’t going away.

Aaron Boone told reporters on Sunday that Stroman is “still experiencing some discomfort with the knee” following his simulated game in Tampa this past Friday. He’s since been temporarily shut down, and Boone wasn’t able to provide a timeline.

This probably knocks Stroman out until June, which, optimistically, gives him about four months to record 131 2/3 innings. Safe to say, based on his track record in recent seasons, that isn’t happening.

Marcus Stroman Injury Update: Yankees likely getting out of contract

Based on his original timeline, if everything had gone well, Stroman was probably on track to return within the next two weeks. If he’s shut down another week, that essentially restarts the clock for his rehab. He started throwing a week after suffering the injury and only reached the simulated game portion of his rehab three weeks later. We’re probably looking at another month before he’s back in action — and that might be generous.

It’s hard to believe that the Yankees likely dodging his $18 million player option is still a loss for them. Stroman will earn $37 million over 2024 and 2025, and that’s after he finished last year as the sixth-worst qualified starter in the league. And it’s unclear if he’ll be able to make up for that with all of the time that’s getting chewed off the calendar early on in 2025.

The Yankees knew the risk going into their deal with Stroman and took the plunge anyway. We’ll say, it was probably better than investing $200 million in Blake Snell, who is dealing with concerning shoulder troubles right now. But this is more than likely going to go down as one of Brian Cashman’s worst swings even though it was only a two-year deal. Had another effective/less injury-prone pitcher been on the staff last year, October might’ve turned out much differently.