Blockbuster Yankees Trade Idea Would Send $37 Million Pitcher Back To Rival

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The New York Yankees are reportedly trying to trade starting pitcher Marcus Stroman this offseason and it makes quite a bit of sense.

Stroman is owed nearly $20 million in 2025 and he wasn't even good enough to crack the Yankees' World Series roster. New York added Max Fried this winter and Stroman simply doesn't have a spot on the roster.

Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer recently put together a list of trades for the Yankees to finally shed Stroman's salary. One of these trades would send Stroman back to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Here's the deal pitched by Rymer:

• New York Yankees receive: 2B Davis Schneider
• Toronto Blue Jays receive: RHP Marcus Stroman, 1B/C Ben Rice, cash

"Whereas Schneider is looking up at Andrés Giménez in Toronto, there would be a starting role for him at second base in New York," Rymer wrote. "If this sounds underwhelming, well, that is fair. The league didn't see Schneider coming when he debuted with a 1.008 OPS in 35 games in 2023, but he fell back to earth with a meager .625 OPS in 2024.

"He's also fanned in 31.4 percent of his MLB plate appearances. There is still potential here, though. Schneider has a strong eye and a swing that produces tons of balls in the air. Only two hitters had a lower ground-ball rate last season."

For the Yankees, this deal feels more like a salary dump than anything. I don't view Schneider as a meaningful upgrade over players like Oswaldo Cabrera or Jorbit Vivas. But it would cut quite a bit of wasted money by dumping Stroman.

For the Blue Jays, adding Stroman and a hitter like Ben Rice would be a solid upgrade as well. Rice becomes even more important if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bolts in free agency next offseason.

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