Marcus Stroman Trade Rumors Heat Up: What the Ace's Next Move Means for MLB Contenders

Right-hander Marcus Stroman is officially back in pinstripes, and the New York Yankees are banking on his return to stabilize a rotation that has been patch-worked for the past three weeks. The club activated the All-Star from the 15-day injured list Saturday and penciled him in to start Sunday’s series finale against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Why Stroman’s comeback matters now • AL East race tightening: New York owns a slim division lead, and innings from a proven veteran could be the difference in holding off Baltimore and Boston down the stretch. • Rotation depth: Gerrit Cole remains sidelined, and youngsters Luis Gil and Will Warren have already blown past their projected workloads. • Clubhouse spark: Stroman’s energy and social-media savvy often translate into added buzz, something the Yankees welcome as the Subway Series approaches. What happened on the rehab trail Stroman logged three minor-league outings with mixed results (11 IP, 7 ER, 9 K) but reported no discomfort in the right hip that shelved him June 9. “The numbers weren’t pretty, but the body feels phenomenal,” the 33-year-old said after his final start at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Pitch-mix tweaks to watch • Two-seam vs sinker: Stroman told reporters he’s “living armside again,” hinting at heavier sinker usage early in counts. • Slider shape: R&D staff asked him to sharpen the vertical break for more swing-and-miss, a logical counter to Oakland’s lefty-heavy lineup. • New changeup grip: A circle-change patterned after teammate Carlos Rodón’s could become a fourth look against right-handed bats. Manager Aaron Boone on innings cap Boone said Stroman will be “around 85–90 pitches” in his return but left the door open for a longer leash if the righty is efficient. The bullpen is fresh after Ian Hamilton’s four-out save Friday, giving New York flexibility. Historical matchup Stroman is 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA in six career starts versus Oakland, including eight scoreless frames at the Coliseum last May. The A’s enter with MLB’s 27th-ranked offense, making Sunday an ideal soft landing. What it means for the trade deadline If Stroman looks like the pitcher who posted a 3.12 ERA in April and May, GM Brian Cashman can shift focus from starting pitching to outfield help before July 31. If not, expect renewed talks with the Marlins on left-hander Jesús Luzardo. Fantasy and betting angles • DFS value: Stroman’s salary remains suppressed after the IL stint; a quality start bonus plus strikeout upside against a swing-and-miss club is intriguing. • Over/Under: Vegas opened the game total at 7.5 runs; monitor weather and lineup cards Sunday morning. • Season-long: Add now if he was dropped—New York’s next three opponents (ATL, KC, CHC) all rank bottom-10 in OPS vs sinkers. Bottom line Marcus Stroman’s health and effectiveness could swing the Yankees’ pursuit of banner No. 28. A strong first outing back against Oakland would silence concerns from a shaky rehab stint and re-establish the swagger he brought to the Bronx in April. All eyes turn to a sun-splashed Sunday in the Bronx to see whether “Stro Show” resumes on schedule.