Evan has heard from Yankee fans, whether it be on air or in his day-to-day life, that are open to taking a flier on Trevor Bauer, yet scoff at the report that the Yanks and Marcus Stroman have mutual interest.
That is where Yankee fans lose Evan.
“You people confuse me,” Evan said. “I have heard Yankee fans scream very loudly, ‘I want Trevor Bauer.’ Who cares if he hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2021? Who cares if there is still accusations against him that are disgusting and disturbing? Who cares if MLB suspended him for a record number of games? Then they have, in the next breath, the audacity to say they don’t want Marcus Stroman.
“Why? Because he hurt your feelings on Twitter? Because he blocked you on social media?”
Both Stroman and Bauer have been known to get into it on social media, though Stroman has shifted to blocking many critics instead. Still, Evan says there is one obvious difference between the two pitchers, and the fact that many Yankee fans seem to be OK with that difference puzzles Evan.
“Both of these guys can help you pitching wise,” Evan said. “But from a personality standpoint, you guys are so willing to give a second chance to Trevor Bauer, yet Marcus Stroman, who is a fine dude, ‘Oh, he’s active on social media, he may go after you, I can’t have that.’ That doesn’t make any sense to me.
“Both guys are very brash. Both guys will tell you what they think…one guy is accused of beating the crap out of women. I’m sorry, let’s just be blunt about this conversation.”
Bauer still has an ongoing case involving another woman, though the high-profile case has been settled. Stroman, a New York native, has shown he can pitch in the Big Apple from his time with the Mets, has shown he can pitch in the AL East from his time with the Blue Jays, and Evan says some Yankee fans are ignoring those facts while overlooking concerns about Bauer.
“Marcus Stroman may have hurt your feelings on social media…I get it, he ain’t perfect,” Evan said. “But I’ll tell you this. Marcus Stroman was never suspended from Major League Baseball for 100 games.”