The Yankees were hit with more injuries over the weekend, as Luis Gil underwent an MRI on his tight shoulder and DJ LeMahieu suffered a calf injury in his first taste of spring training action.
Many Yankee fans declared that the injury to Gil proved that the Yanks should no longer consider trading Marcus Stroman, who suddenly could find himself in the Opening Day rotation if Gil misses time. But Chris McMonigle says he would still look to move the veteran righty if it means Hal Steinbrenner would add a much-needed third baseman or DH as a result.
“If the owner is still hung up on the payroll and isn’t gonna go out there and add a bat or add Nolan Arenado...or J.D. Martinez to add another bat to this team, I still look to move Marcus Stroman,” C-Mac said.
“They have Will Warren, who has been pitching great this spring...I’ll live with that and Carlos Carrasco as the sixth guy.”
Stroman struggled badly down the stretch of last season, to the point where he was not a factor in the playoffs, but he has a track record of pitching full seasons and staying healthy, and the Yanks have their questions already on the pitching staff. But C-Mac says the lineup is the more pressing issue now that Giancarlo Stanton is down, LeMahieu is hurt, and a big question mark lingers at the hot corner.
“I’d live with that and trade Marcus Stroman. What kind of faith do you have in him anyway?” C-Mac said. “I’d still look to trade him and not rely on the idea that they need pitching depth. They’ll find pitching depth. They have some in the organization, and honestly, what are we talking about? Ten, 15 games over the course of half the year?”