The Yankees’ deal Thursday night for consistent veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman came as quite a surprise considering the uneasy history of the parties. But it made some sense when you realize how many of the Yankees’ recent efforts for even bigger pitching stars failed and how badly their viable rotation options dwindled. 

The Yankees recently made an offer to NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell, as first reported by The Post. However, the sides were very far apart, so far it didn’t look like to them like there was any chance for a quick deal with Snell. 

The Yankees were also one of many teams that seriously pursued available White Sox star Dylan Cease. But with the White Sox requesting a prospect-heavy package leading with top outfield prospect Spencer Jones, the Yankees saw even less hope anything could be accomplished anytime soon there. 

Additionally, the Yankees came to believe they weren’t at the top of coveted free agent Jordan Montgomery’s wish list. True or not, the Yankees (and many others) assume Montgomery would prefer to return to Texas, where he helped the Rangers win their first World Series title. And even if the Rangers don’t resolve their local TV issue and aren’t able to sign Montgomery, he has a huge field of suitors and surely recalls that he had greater success since leaving the Bronx. The Phillies, Red Sox, Giants and Angels are among many to have shown interest. 

With hope running low for their top three rotation targets and an obvious rotation need, the Yankees decided Stroman was their best available option. Though their history with Stroman wouldn’t have suggested this was a strong possibility, funny things can happen in free agency. 

Stroman’s deal, pending a physical, for $37 million over two years plus a vesting option, while a fine deal for a pitcher who opted out of a contract that had a year remaining at $21M, is considerably less than the two top free agents — Snell and Montgomery — on the Yankees’ wish list. With the addition of Luke Weaver at $2M earlier Thursday for rotation depth, the current belief is they may be done or close to done with their rotation. That’s the thinking at least for now, but in free agency, as we see, you never know. 

That certainly was the case for Stroman, who was known to be so disappointed when his Blue Jays traded him to the Mets instead of the Yankees that he expressed deep displeasure (that’s putting it mildly) to a high-ranking Jays executive at the time. Yankees GM Brian Cashman explained then that they didn’t see Stroman, who’s a great competitor with a nice arsenal but not a hard thrower, as a “difference-maker.” 

Perhaps to return volley, Stroman later made a couple disparaging remarks about the Yankees’ lack of recent World Series success on social media. Which might have killed his chances to ever become a Yankee, except Cashman 1) doesn’t have a thin skin (just think about all the abuse he’s taken the last year), and 2) needed to bulk up a rotation thinned badly by the loss for four viable starters in the trade for superstar slugger Juan Soto. 

While Stroman was fielding interest from at least the Orioles, Red Sox and Giants, you can imagine the Long Island product liked the idea of pitching in pinstripes, despite his previous posts. As for the Yankees, they warmed to it with few other palatable options. The sides were talking more seriously over the past few days after initially making contact at the GM meetings back in November. 

There are things to like. Stroman finished 2023 with a 10-9 record and 3.95 ERA but took a 2.47 ERA into July last year, when he was one of the best pitchers in the National League and an All-Star. Though he wound up missing most of the second half with injuries, they weren’t serious or arm-related ailments (he never has had a serious arm injury). 

Still, the lack of appearances made the decision to opt out a gamble, and something of a surprise. But not as big of a surprise as him making a deal to come to the Yankees.