Blue Jays: Yankees did not think Marcus Stroman was a difference-maker

According to Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman, the club did not feel that Marcus Stroman was a difference-maker when pursuing the Blue Jays hurler at the trade deadline.

Brian Cashman recently sat down with Wallace Matthews from Yahoo Sports to discuss all things Yankees. The topic surrounding the Yankees pursuit of former Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman was broached at which time the General Manager stated the ball club did not feel that Stroman was a difference-maker.

Cashman even took it one step further and quipped that he felt that Stroman was destined for the bullpen in the postseason had the Yankees acquired him.

“We were interested in Stroman but we didn’t think he would be a difference-maker,” Cashman said. “We felt he would be in our bullpen in the postseason.”

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As well all know, Marcus Stroman was unexpectedly dealt to the New York Mets in exchange for pitching prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson. Since the trade, Stroman has gone 3-2 with a respectable 3.86 earned run average in ten starts for the Mets.

Kay has made 3 appearances with the Jays accumulating a 5.79 earned run average in 14 innings of work.

The comments from Cashman are surprising seeing the Jays were reportedly asking for the Yankees number one prospect Deivi Garcia. Obviously the Stroman trade market did not develop like many had hoped to force the deal with the Metropolitans.

The Blue Jays brain trust were chastised by industry experts for rushing the trade and not receiving a large enough ransom back for Stroman. However, they obviously took the best package that was offered and perhaps fans north of the border overvalued our outspoken star.

Stroman will become a free agent after next season and the Yankees were considered to be the desired landing spot for Stroman. It will be interesting to see if these comments change his mind or if he fires back on social media in response to Cashman’s comments.