As the calendar year has changed to 2025, the New York Yankees have remained unusually quiet. January has come and gone, without even a single major league signing. Fans expected more signings and more excitement, but that hasn’t been the case. Sure, one can blame the free-agent market is honestly slow this time. But that’s not the only excuse for the Yankees not writing those checks. Something more internal going on with the pinstriped team and as usual, Hal Steinbrenner is being blamed.
One glaring issue hanging like a sword on the team’s neck is Marcus Stroman’s $37 million contract. Just a year ago, he was the biggest signing of the month. Now he is an expensive question mark for the team. After being moved to the bullpen in September and left off the ALDS, his role was murky at best.
Moreover, the team is just over the highest luxury threshold at $302. 9 million. So right now for the Yankees, moving his $18 million salary has become more of a necessity than a wanted choice. And even insiders like Greg Joyce from the New York Post agree; a trade seems to be incoming.
Sherman
“The Yankees might need to eat 13m of Stroman’s money to move him and use the 5m to sign a Lefty RP”
If that’s the case Waldo is the OD 3b
— Bobby Milone (@BobbyMilone29) January 31, 2025
Greg Joyce predicted that Stroman would be dealt with before the opening day. But this won’t be easy. Per Joel Sherman, the Yankees might have to eat up to $13 million of his contract to even make a deal like that happen. This would free up $5 million, which would then be enough to sign the lefty reliever that they need. They also possibly need to add infield depth at third or second base to their shopping list.
Not only that, but they also need a backup catcher! This dire situation itself highlights the level of mismanagement going on at the New York Yankees. They need to add pieces but need to offload Stroman to make that possible. Right now, Stroman is projected as the starter, which is an expensive backup plan for the team. Sure, injuries and things can change this around, but for now, Stroman is taking up too much financial space. Fans, meanwhile, are not thrilled with how things are going on with the dealing.
Fans not thrilled with New York Yankees’ management this 0ff-season
A user mentioned how it’s a classic Brian Cashman move. For every good move, he makes four more bad ones. And well, fan sentiment is understandable, given that they are tired of waiting for the championship win. Under the leadership of Cashman, it hasn’t come to light. Hal Steinbrenner is also under fire now, given that he expressed his desire to extend Aaron Boone’s contract. Not to mention, the Juan Soto miss is something hard to forget too!
Obviously another brilliant signing by Cashman….just as I always said, for every good move he makes 4 bad ones, and is the unique “limiting factor” to NYY having 1 championship in 25 years.
— Aqualungmyfriend (@PapaD1113) February 1, 2025
For some, this Stroman trade makes no sense. Now if you were to look at his first 16 starts, it makes sense. He delivered a solid 3.15 ERA then. But he had a rough finish to the season, posting a 5.97 ERA over his 14 outings. His full-season ERA is 4.31. But for some fans, he is still more valuable than the team, eating away so much of the salary to give him up. And from that analytical standpoint, it makes sense. But then there is the luxury tax problem!
Sherman is wrong a lot when it comes to the Yankees. At $5m, you’d just keep him. Would make zero sense to trade him for that
— john harvey (@pjyankeeedved) February 1, 2025
One X user straight out called the management out. And it’s not just Yankee fans who are doing it, but also people like Johnny Lasagna are coming out with such complaints too. He took to X to call out the New York Yankees, mocking their “poor act” while they racked in millions from deep playoff runs. He is not buying the media’s excuse of how much debt they are in or the bill they have to pay at all.
Tough times for Hal and Cash mismanagement is off the charts
— William (@william_oak2455) February 1, 2025
Angered by the management of the New York Yankees, one user went so far as to call Hal Steinbrenner a loser. And this narrative has been going on for a while now. Mostly after Juan Soto’s deal couldn’t materialize, he went to essentially what Bronx fans call their younger brother’s team. It was just an insult for many, which they think wouldn’t have happened had George Steinbrenner been in charge. For fans, Hal Steinbrenner’s calculated and slow moves don’t cut it for the team. Meanwhile, this Stroman issue is just another huge problem.
Hal Steinbrenner is a loser
— Harry (@HarryFromTheSee) February 1, 2025
Another fan highlighted a similar thing- better keep Marcus Stroman than eat $13 million. Now there are chances that Stroman will be needed. After all, didn’t everyone see what happened with several teams last season with several players getting injured and in IL? The New York Yankees, however, already have a strong starting rotation of Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt. So there is not much room for Stroman’s inclusion. So eventually, sooner or later, it looks like he is to be traded.
Better off keeping Stroman than eating $13 million
— Alex M (@SaratogaSlabs) February 1, 2025
Well, maybe no one can beat the Dodgers this offseason in spending but Hal Steinbrenner has his work cut out for him.
The post Bronx Fans Accuse Hal Steinbrenner After $18 Million Roadblock Leaves Yankees Bullpen Vulnerable appeared first on EssentiallySports.