Stroman: There's no Yankees pitcher 'in my league' besides Cole, Severino
Soon-to-be free agent Marcus Stroman took a jab at the state of the New York Yankees' starting rotation Wednesday.
"Besides (Gerrit) Cole, there's no current Yankee pitcher who will be anywhere in my league over the next five-to-seven years," Stroman wrote on Twitter. "Their pitching always folds in the end. That lineup and payroll should be winning (a) World Series left and right...yet they're in a drought. Lol."
Stroman later added: "Forgot about Sevy! When he's healthy, he's unreal. One of my favorites to watch. Cole and (Luis) Severino. There's still three spots in that staff that need help! Am I wrong? Lol."
The Yankees had an opportunity to acquire Stroman at the 2019 trade deadline but general manager Brian Cashman reportedly balked at the Toronto Blue Jays asking price of outfielder Clint Frazier.
"We were interested in Stroman but we didn't think he would be a difference-maker," Cashman said at the time, according to Wallace Matthews of Yahoo Sports. "We felt he would be in our bullpen in the postseason."
Stroman, 29, opted out of the 2020 campaign. The 2019 All-Star posted a 3.22 ERA in 32 starts combined between the Blue Jays and New York Mets that year.
The Yankees' rotation finished with a 4.24 ERA this season, which was good enough for fifth-best in the American League. However, most of the heavy lifting came from Cole, who posted a 2.84 ERA and 11.6 K/9 across 12 starts.
New York was knocked out of the playoffs in the ALDS after losing to the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays. The Bronx Bombers have now gone 11 years without winning a World Series.