The New York Yankees have faced a challenging offseason regarding pitcher Marcus Stroman, who has been sidelined by a knee injury and absent from the mound. Throughout the offseason, the Yankees made several attempts to trade Stroman, and the right-hander appeared aware of those efforts. Despite speculation about a move to the bullpen, Stroman made it clear during spring training that he was not interested in a relief role and preferred to remain a starter when healthy.
Although Stroman has missed significant time, he has filled in as a starter when his health allowed, stepping up amid injuries affecting the Yankees’ pitching staff. However, his continued knee soreness has limited his ability to contribute on the mound as the season progresses.
Potential Addition of Sandy Alcantara to Strengthen the Rotation
In light of Stroman’s injury, the Yankees are exploring options to bolster their starting rotation, with Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins emerging as a key candidate. CBS Sports analyst RJ Anderson highlighted Alcantara as a leading trade possibility given his status as a former Cy Young Award winner, though his current performance has raised concerns about his consistency after returning from Tommy John surgery.
Alcantara has brought back his velocity and maintained his ability to generate ground balls. However, his command has been uneven, with pitches more frequently making contact with opposing hitters. Teams interested in acquiring Alcantara will have to weigh whether they believe he can regain form during the season and how much they are willing to invest in such a gamble.
Alcantara appeared to be the league’s most obvious top trade candidate coming into the season as he returned from Tommy John surgery. His velocity is back and he’s generating plenty of ground balls, but his command hasn’t been there and his pitches are finding the barrel too often. Teams will have to assess not only what they think of his chances of righting the ship in-season, but how much they’re willing to part with in order to play the odds,
RJ Anderson, CBS Sports analyst.
Update on Marcus Stroman’s Recovery Timeline
The Yankees remain hopeful that Marcus Stroman will return from his knee injury soon, with reports indicating he is scheduled for a bullpen session on Tuesday. Though he has struggled with knee soreness, medical evaluations have revealed no structural damage, allowing him to throw a side session recently without complications.
Should Stroman complete the upcoming bullpen session without setbacks, he could return from the 15-day injured list during the first half of June. However, his immediate reintegration into the starting rotation remains uncertain, as other pitchers like Will Warren and Ryan Yarbrough have been performing well. Additionally, JT Brubaker is on a rehab assignment after a rib injury, and Luis Gil is also nearing a comeback, making the rotation situation more complex.
Stroman has struggled to overcome soreness in his left knee, but tests have shown no structural damage, and he threw a side session Saturday without issue. Should the right-hander get through Tuesday’s bullpen session without a setback, he could be in line for a return from the 15-day injured list in the first half of June. It’s unclear if Stroman will immediately return to the rotation, however, as both Will Warren and Ryan Yarbrough have been pitching well, while JT Brubaker (ribs) recently began a rehab assignment and Luis Gil (lat) is approaching a return to the mound as well,
MLB.com report.
Assessing Sandy Alcantara’s Current Performance and Durability
Sandy Alcantara’s form this season has not matched the elite level he reached prior to his injury, a situation that the Yankees must carefully evaluate if they consider acquiring him. He missed all of the previous season due to Tommy John surgery, which explains much of his reduced effectiveness so far in 2025.
Before his injury, Alcantara was noted for his reliability and ability to stay healthy, consistently logging high innings pitched in full seasons from 2019 through 2023. His 2022 campaign was particularly impressive, as he earned the National League Cy Young Award by posting a 2.28 ERA and striking out 207 batters over 228.2 innings, establishing himself as one of the game’s top pitchers.
The Yankees must hope that Alcantara can return to that dominant form if they decide to pursue a trade, but they will face competition from other teams eyeing his potential upside at the trade deadline. This makes any acquisition a calculated risk balanced between his past success and current uncertainty.
The Impact on the Yankees’ Rotation and Future Prospects
The decisions surrounding Marcus Stroman’s recovery and the possible addition of Sandy Alcantara are critical for the Yankees as they try to solidify their pitching staff amid ongoing injuries and inconsistent performances. Stroman’s anticipated return could immediately stabilize the rotation, but his health and readiness remain question marks.
Meanwhile, trading for Alcantara could offer the Yankees an elite arm with a track record of excellence, though they must be prepared for the risk that he might not regain full form this season. As the trade deadline approaches, the Yankees will need to carefully balance impatience and caution in managing their pitching resources to maintain competitiveness.