Marcus Stroman, the 33-year-old starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, is still dealing with soreness in his left knee, 10 days after his last appearance. The Yankees had initially believed he could return quickly after going on the 15-day injured list with knee inflammation on April 13. But that hope was short-lived.
Speaking Monday from Progressive Field in Cleveland, Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Stroman’s condition remains uncertain. “He’s still feeling some things in there,” Boone said. “He threw, but it’s still kind of clearing the path for him.” Boone later added that there may be “some nerve stuff in there that was irritating it a little bit.”
Stroman has only resumed light throwing after receiving a cortisone injection over the weekend, which is a sign of some progress, but it’s clear he is not close to returning to game action. Throwing catch is only the first step in a long process, and there is no timetable for a bullpen session, let alone a rehab assignment.
- Marcus Stroman remains sidelined with ongoing knee soreness, casting doubt on his return despite initial hopes for a quick recovery.
- His performance before injury was concerning, with an 11.57 ERA over just 9.1 innings, worsening the Yankees’ already thin rotation.
- With a $140-inning vesting option on the line, Stroman’s health and future earnings hang in the balance as the Yankees take a cautious approach.
Early Struggles Made Injury Worse for Yankees
Before his injury, Stroman was already struggling on the mound. In just 9.1 innings across his first two starts, he allowed 14 earned runs and walked 8 batters. His ERA ballooned to 11.57, with a 2.04 WHIP. These are not numbers the Yankees expected from a two-time All-Star they signed this offseason for $37 million over two years.
Even more concerning is that his sinker, usually one of his most reliable pitches, wasn’t effective. In 2023, it helped him produce a 53% groundball rate. But this season, the pitch has lacked movement and sharpness. The poor results raised questions about his mechanics and physical condition, and now the knee issue adds another layer.
Stroman’s injury also came at a bad time for the team. While Clarke Schmidt returned to the rotation just as Stroman left, the Yankees’ depth remains thin. Carlos Carrasco is still trying to prove he can be a stable option, at least until June when Luis Gil is expected back from a high-grade lat strain.
Without Stroman, the Yankees have had to rely on pitchers like Clayton Beeter and Cody Poteet. Beeter has posted a 3.86 ERA in two starts—respectable but not reliable over the long run. The team needs more than stopgaps, especially now that it’s facing strong lineups like the Cleveland Guardians, led by José Ramírez and Josh Naylor.
Long Injury History Raises More Questions
This is not Stroman’s first injury problem. In 2015, during spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays, he tore his ACL in the same left knee. He returned in September and pitched in the postseason. That same year, while recovering, he finished his degree at Duke University.
Stroman avoided major injuries in 2016 and 2017, though he did deal with a blister and a line drive off the elbow. He didn’t miss a start either time. In 2018, he was placed on the injured list with shoulder fatigue after starting the season 0-5 with a 7.71 ERA. He returned after a month but missed additional time later that year due to more blisters.
In 2020, he suffered a torn left calf and was originally expected to return during the delayed season. However, he opted out due to COVID-19 concerns and did not pitch that year.
His 2023 season with the Chicago Cubs was a tale of two halves. He made the All-Star team and had a strong first half, but missed much of the second half with hip inflammation and a separate rib cage cartilage fracture. He returned in September, but the Cubs were already out of contention.
Innings Milestone at Risk
Stroman is earning $18.5 million this season. His contract includes an $18 million vesting option for 2026, which activates only if he reaches 140 innings pitched in 2025. The longer he remains on the injured list, the harder it will be to reach that number.
Last season, Stroman pitched 154 2/3 innings. That was his highest total since 2021 when he threw 179 innings in 33 starts for the Mets. He looked like a safe bet to log innings for the Yankees this year, especially after a dominant stretch in May 2024 when he posted a 1.67 ERA across six starts.
Now, that confidence has turned into concern. The Yankees were counting on him to be a reliable number-two starter behind Gerrit Cole. With Cole still weeks away from returning and Stroman uncertain, the rotation is unstable.
Boone made it clear that they won’t rush Stroman. “We’ll continue to work to try to get him physically where he needs to be,” he said, “and then hopefully start building him back up.”
That means Stroman is unlikely to pitch in the current series against the Guardians, or possibly even the next. There is no official schedule for his return, and until he’s able to throw without discomfort, the Yankees will have to manage without him.
