The New York Yankees signed Marcus Stroman to a two-year deal in free agency on Thursday, bringing the two-time All-Star back home to the Big Apple.
Normally, the signing of a veteran pitcher with a career ERA of 3.65 coming off an All-Star season would have the home fans cheering and their rivals cursing. But this isn't exactly a normal signing.
Stroman has been a controversial figure in baseball, alienating multiple fanbases with his penchant for arguing with fans on social media. His time with the Mets from 2019 to 2021 didn't exactly endear him to that side of New York.
So when Mets fans heard the news that Stroman was signing with the Yankees, many of them laughed and welcomed the idea of a player with a difficult reputation joining their rivals.
Mets, rivals love the idea of Marcus Stroman ruining Yankees clubhouse vibes
Stroman to the Yankees? Good luck with that!
— Eric Slater (@ericsslater) January 12, 2024
😂😂😂
I see the Yankees are picking up on the Mets scraps again with the Stroman signing….classic little bro syndrome
— Trav (@Travis_LFGM) January 12, 2024
New York #Yankees sign Marcus Stroman. 2 years 37M with a vesting 3rd year option. Stroman’s 3rd year option vests with 140 innings pitched in year 2. Good luck Yanks. Stroman is a clown who loves the spotlight, hates criticism, & always brings the drama😂😂😂
— MUSSI (@MetsHype) January 12, 2024
It would be amazing for the Mets drop crazy runs on Stroman so fans from both sides can get blocked at the same time 🤣🤣
— 🇩🇴Josh🇵🇷 (@Bearded_MetsFan) January 12, 2024
Dear Yankees fans,
— Katie (@KatieRocs) January 12, 2024
Not even you deserve the trash that is Marcus Stroman. I’m so sorry.
Sincerely,
A die-hard Mets fan.
genuinely think after stroman’s time with the yankees is over yankees fans will hate him more than mets fans do
— Albie #LFGM (@AlbieMKII) January 12, 2024
Never forget that Marcus Stroman absolutely trashed the Yankee organization when they didn't want him in the past. Add that to the rest of what he brings...Clubhouse disaster incoming
— Rob Del Muro (@rdel76) January 12, 2024
Marcus Stroman and Alex Verdugo trying to figure out who’s the problem in the Yankees clubhouse pic.twitter.com/bg8eaQ8DPJ
— GMagz (@b0nerjams_03) January 12, 2024
Stroman spent the last two seasons with the Cubs. After posting a 3.50 ERA in 2022, he came out hot in 2023 with a 2.96 ERA in the first half of the season, going 9-6 in 19 games. However, he struggled with injury in the second half of the season, posting an 8.64 ERA in six starts.
So there's clearly a standout pitcher in there, but consistency and injury history made him more of a risky signing for this year.
The Yankees got a pretty good deal for a pitcher who could be outstanding. On the other hand, if he's not at his best and the crowd at Yankee Stadium turns on him, it could get ugly. We've seen it before.
So bookmark this one if you want Yankees fans. The freezing cold takes are there to memorialize if Stroman turns out to be a great signing. For now, the skepticism from outside the Bronx is high.