The trade rumors regarding Marcus Stroman and the New York Yankees are intensifying and the New York native is showing his cards.
Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman knows his days in Toronto are numbered. Toronto is in the first full year of rebuilding. Stroman is the last key piece of the 2015 Jays that made a deep playoff run.
However, the Jays aren’t likely to hold onto top-of-the-rotation arms during a rebuild. Stroman knows a trade is coming. And if he’s on the way out, he’s decided to make it very known who he might want to play for—the New York Yankees.
Marcus Stroman just had an availability with New York reporters. Said he feels he's done a good job of pitching this season through the trade rumors, and said of playing in high-pressure environments: "I love the bright lights. I was built for this."
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) June 24, 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzGQOmRnCZa/?igshid=73x6hw6u8phf
Marcus, why don’t we just stop beating around the bush here? You want the New York Yankees to trade for you. The idea of coming to your hometown and dominating on the biggest stage is too enticing.
This is not to mention the possibility of sharing a locker room with future Hall of Famer CC Sabathia…
CC has always been one of my role models. Love how he handles life on-and-off the field. Shout to @RyanRuocco for always showing love. GO LISTEN! @CC_Sabathia #R2C2 https://t.co/u4CNcz4YPy
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) June 7, 2019
The good news is the sentiment is shared by Yankees fans. Stroman’s energy and confidence on the mound make him much watch television. He’s pitched to a sub-3.00 ERA and received his first All-Star nod.
It also doesn’t hurt that he absolutely undressed the Boston Red Sox in two starts this year, throwing 12 innings and allowing only one earned run. Ask any Yankees fan what the most important quality in a player is, they’ll tell you it’s how you play against the Red Sox.
Likewise, Stroman sports a 56% ground ball rate, which is a huge plus with the Yankee Stadium dimensions.
In short, Marcus Stroman fits the Yankees as a player. Likewise, the veteran pitcher has the mental makeup to succeed in New York. One can certainly expect that the added pressure of championship expectations will raise Stroman’s intensity and focus.
He wants it. We want it. Let’s make it happen.
