Yanks release Stroman ahead of upcoming rotation crunch

MIAMI – The Yankees staked Marcus Stroman to a seven-run lead early on Thursday afternoon, then grew unsettled as the right-hander faced eight Rays in the fourth inning, surrendering four runs.

It was to be Stroman’s final start in pinstripes. Facing a rotation crunch with Luis Gil due back from the injured list on Sunday, the Yankees released Stroman on Friday afternoon, ending the veteran’s two-year stint in the Bronx.

“That was tough today,” manager Aaron Boone said. “The [public] perception around Stro, for us, did not meet the guy we got to be around for the last couple years. He’s an awesome competitor. … I feel like he’ll be a guy that I’ll stay in touch with for the rest of our lives.”

Stroman was 3-2 with a 6.23 ERA in nine starts this season, picking up a win in Thursday’s 7-4 victory over Tampa Bay. The Yankees could have continued with Stroman in the rotation, but doing so would have displaced promising rookie right-handers Cam Schlittler or Will Warren.

Both Schlittler and Warren have Minor League options remaining, yet they have shown promise that could benefit the club in a playoff push.

Warren, 26, is 6-5 with a 4.64 ERA in 23 starts. Schlittler, 24, has made three starts, already breaking triple digits to register the hardest pitches thrown by a Yankees hurler this season.

“We feel like Warren and Schlittler are ready to be in the rotation full-time,” Boone said.

Additionally, left-hander Ryan Yarbrough is recovering from a right oblique strain and could provide starting or relief depth later this month.

Stroman’s release comes a day after the Yankees revamped their pitching staff during a frenetic Trade Deadline, culminating in the additions of David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird to the active roster.

They hoped to do more. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acknowledged he pursued starting pitching in advance of Thursday’s Trade Deadline – the club is known to have pushed for the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara, among others.

“We certainly knocked on many doors regarding potential starting pitching, but obviously weren’t able to match up in that category,” Cashman said.

The Yankees still owe Stroman approximately $5 million this season. Stroman signed a two-year, $37 million deal with the Yanks before last season that included a conditional player option for 2026, which would have been valued at $18 million if Stroman reached 140 innings this season.

It’s not the first time Stroman has faced a crowding issue in the rotation. Before Gerrit Cole’s injury this spring, the Yankees appeared to have one too many starting pitchers. Stroman made it clear he would not pitch out of the bullpen, repeatedly saying, “I’m a starter.”

But Stroman’s tone softened after missing about two months, having sustained a left knee injury while pitching against the Giants on a rainy night in mid-April.

Stroman’s first season with the Yankees was solid, in which he went 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 30 games (29 starts). However, he did not pitch in the postseason and was left off the Division Series roster against the Royals.

Over Stroman’s career -- which has also featured time with the Blue Jays, Mets and Cubs -- the two-time All-Star is 90-87 with a 3.79 ERA in 270 appearances (261 starts). He was an All-Star as recently as 2023, when he went 10-9 with a 3.95 ERA for the Cubs.