The Mets’ rotation is unraveling before the season even begins. Kodai Senga’s injury has left them without a true ace, while Luis Severino and Sean Manaea bring more questions than answers. José Quintana is serviceable but hardly a difference-maker and the back end of the rotation is a patchwork at best. If the Mets want to stay competitive in a suddenly stacked NL East, they need to make a move—fast.
And that leaves us to Marcus Stroman.
If there’s a pitcher tailor-made for what the Mets need right now, it’s Stroman. He’s durable (when healthy), efficient, and thrives in New York’s spotlight. The Mets saw it firsthand in 2021 when he posted a 3.02 ERA over 33 starts. Unlike some pitchers who wilt under pressure, Stroman embraces it.
He feeds off the energy, the headlines, the rivalries.
“I think Marcus Stroman really is exactly what the Mets are looking for in a pitcher to be exact; he fits that team so perfectly for what they need right now,” mentioned Brian McKeon, the new co-host of Locked on Yankees. He didn’t hesitate to explain that “The Yankees don’t need Marcus Stroman… There’s no room for him on the roster. He doesn’t fit the plan anymore.”
When the Yankees signed Stroman to a two-year, $37 million deal, it made sense at that time. Their rotation had injury concerns, and he provided depth. But fast forward to today, and suddenly there’s no clear spot for him.
Gerrit Cole is the unquestioned ace. Carlos Rodón is looking for a bounce-back season but isn’t going anywhere. Nestor Cortes and Clarke Schmidt are locked in, and the Yanks are still rumored to be in on Max Fried or another top-tier arm. If they land another ace, Stroman could find himself as a luxury, and not a necessity.Here’s where it gets tricky though.
The Yankees don’t just hand over assets to the Mets. The two teams rarely make trades, and when they do, it’s never something as significant as a frontline starter.
Will this trade ever happen?
If the Yankees decide to trade Marcus Stroman to the Mets, it wouldn’t be a deal for sure.
Despite his dropping performance in 2023 and injury worries lingering around him, Stroman has proven himself as a reliable middle-tier pitcher with a playoff background. So, for such a trade conversation to even start between the two rivals, it would likely involve bringing in promising pitchers like Mike Vasil or Dominic Hamel from the Mets farm. Both were considered talents who could make an impact on the field sooner.
Alternatively, the Yankees might ask for bullpen help or a versatile position player, considering their need for depth beyond the rotation.
The bigger obstacle, however, is whether the Bronx Bombers would be willing to strengthen a direct rival. If the Yankees sense any risk of this deal backfiring—say, Stroman thriving in Queens while the return flops—they might avoid it altogether. That means the Mets would likely have to overpay, offering a package that clearly benefits the Yankees in both the short and long term.
Otherwise, the Yankees could simply hold onto Stroman as rotation insurance or shop him to another team outside New York.
So, would the Mets be willing to take on his contract? Probably. Would the Yankees demand an actual return instead of just dumping salary? Absolutely. This move makes too much sense for the Mets. But unless the Mets get desperate or the Yankees find a better rotation upgrade, this remains an intriguing but unlikely scenario. Don’t you think?
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