The New York Mets have been hit with multiple injuries to their starting rotation, losing both Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees also received some unfortunate news, as Luis Gil is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks. These setbacks could test the depth of both teams as they prepare for the season.
With Marcus Stroman waiting in the wings, the Yankees could turn to him to help stabilize their rotation. However, the team has been exploring trade options for the right-hander throughout the offseason, hoping to move his two-year, $37 million contract. While Stroman could be a valuable piece in the short term, the Yankees may still be open to dealing him if they find a trade that improves their roster.
The Mets, now dealing with injuries to Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, could be a potential landing spot for Marcus Stroman if the Yankees remain open to trading him. While Stroman previously pitched for the Mets from 2019 to 2021, his past relationship with the organization was complicated, particularly with team leadership. However, given the Mets’ sudden need for rotation depth, revisiting a reunion might not be out of the question—especially if the Yankees are willing to retain salary or include additional incentives in a deal.
Jared Bloom of Sportskeeda believes the Mets could be a logical trade destination for Marcus Stroman, given their recent rotation injuries.
The New York Mets have seen a few injuries to their starting rotation. Sean Manaea was shut down on Monday after experiencing a right oblique strain. Frankie Montas also came off the mound recently feeling discomfort.
“Marcus Stroman could be a name the clubs turn to. His status with the Yankees is up in the air with a handful of starters that likely push Stroman to the sixth man or a reliever,”** Bloom wrote.
With Stroman’s role in question and the Mets in need of reinforcements, a crosstown trade isn’t out of the realm of possibility—especially if the Yankees are motivated to move his contract.
Stroman Knows He Has to Step Up With Gil Out
With Luis Gil sidelined, the Yankees will operate with a traditional five-man rotation. Even before Gil’s injury, the team was expected to stick with a five-man setup, which likely would have left Marcus Stroman as the odd man out. For now, this situation solidifies Stroman’s uncertain role, adding to the speculation that the Yankees could still look to move him if the right trade opportunity arises.
Stroman understands that his job remains the same—delivering quality performances on the mound, as he has throughout his career. Regardless of his uncertain role with the Yankees or the ongoing trade speculation, he’ll need to continue pitching at an above-average level to prove his value, whether in New York or elsewhere.
Stroman acknowledged Luis Gil’s importance to the Yankees’ success, emphasizing how much the team needs him to compete at the highest level.
“That’s one of my guys,” Stroman said, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post. “Huge fan of Luis. It sucks, man. I don’t even know what to say to put it into words. He was a huge part of this team last year — incredible, incredible season. We’re gonna need him at some point in order to go where we want. Hopefully, it’s not as bad as it is. Hopefully, his recovery goes really well and we can have him back as fast as possible, because that’s an elite arm we want out there each and every time you can get him.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Stroman’s role, his comments make it clear that he sees Gil as a key piece of the Yankees’ rotation moving forward.
Do the Mets Need Another Arm?
Losing Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea is a significant setback for any team, but for the Mets, it’s even more concerning given their already questionable starting rotation. Even before these injuries, there were concerns about the team’s pitching depth, making the losses of Montas and Manaea an even bigger challenge as they try to remain competitive.On paper, the New York Yankees have the stronger pitching staff, but their success will ultimately depend on staying healthy. With Luis Gil already sidelined and questions surrounding other arms, durability will be a key factor in determining whether their rotation can live up to expectations.
On paper, the New York Yankees have the stronger pitching staff, but their success will ultimately depend on staying healthy. With Luis Gil already sidelined and questions surrounding other arms, durability will be a key factor in determining whether their rotation can live up to expectations.
Despite concerns about the Mets’ rotation, team executives remained confident in their pitching depth. The front office believed they were in a solid position heading into the season, but the recent injuries to Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas have put that depth to the test.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns expressed confidence in the team’s starting pitching depth just days before Frankie Montas suffered his injury.
“I will say, I feel much better about our starting pitching depth sitting here today than I did a year ago,” Stearns said, according to Jorge Castillo of ESPN. “We made that a priority of our offseason. We brought in a number of players at all levels of free agency.”
While the Mets focused on bolstering their rotation depth over the winter, the early injuries to Montas and Sean Manaea are already putting that depth to the test.
Stearns wasn’t the only one expressing confidence in the Mets’ rotation, reinforcing the idea that the team may not feel pressured to trade for another starter—at least for now. However, if further evaluations reveal a more serious issue with Sean Manaea, the Mets’ stance could change, potentially reopening the door for an external addition.
Mets owner Steve Cohen also expressed confidence in the team’s pitching staff, suggesting that concerns about the rotation may be overblown.
“I think our pitching is going to surprise people, even though there’s a lot of talk about starting pitching,” Cohen said. “And another thing is we’re flexible. If we have to make changes or improve the team during the year, you saw what we did in ’24 and we’ll do it again in ’25.”
Cohen’s comments reinforce the idea that the Mets believe in their current rotation but remain open to making adjustments if needed. If the injuries to Sean Manaea or Frankie Montas prove to be more significant, the team could still explore external options to reinforce their staff.
