Marcus Stroman's struggles highlight Yankees trade-deadline failure

By all accounts, the New York Yankees did well at the 2024 trade deadline.

Second baseman/outfielder Jazz Chisholm has slotted in at third base, providing a dynamic player who the Yankees needed. Chisholm, acquired on July 27, has already made his mark on team history. Mark Leiter Jr. and Enyel De Los Santos were also added to bolster a shaky bullpen. The Yankees' only issue at the trade deadline was their failure to address the starting rotation.

That failure to address the rotation came to the forefront on Friday night. Marcus Stroman had his worst start of the season, allowing seven runs on eight hits and a walk, striking out three over his 2 2/3 innings. His implosion against the Blue Jays capped off a disastrous 10 start run in which Stroman has posted a 6.32 ERA and a 1.681 WHiP over 47 innings, striking out 31 batters with 20 walks. Opponents have a .309/.385/.534 batting line in 218 plate appearances against him during that time frame.

It's not that the Yankees hadn't looked to address the rotation at the deadline. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the club had a preliminary agreement to acquire Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers. However, New York backed out of the deal after reviewing his medicals.

Yankees starters as a whole have struggled since June 1. They have posted a combined 5.36 ERA over their 263 2/3 innings entering play on Saturday, ranking 28th in the majors. Reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole has struggled since his return from the injured list and was then forced to miss a start ahead of the trade deadline. Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodon have been mediocre for most of the season. The rotation had become a problem; the Yankees needed Stroman to provide stability. He failed to do so on Friday with his struggles exacerbating the Yankees pitching woes.