Marcus Stroman responds to Brian Cashman’s jab

By Sep 25, 2019, 7:29 PM EDT
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Yankees GM Brian Cashman appeared to take a jab at Mets starter Marcus Stroman in a profile published by Wallace Matthews of Yahoo Sports on Monday. Earlier this year, the Yankees were reportedly one of the teams pursuing Stroman via trade, but the Blue Jays wanted outfielder Clint Frazier included in any such deal. Cashman wasn’t willing to play ball. Stroman ended up being traded to the Mets for Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson.

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

Stroman caught wind of this and responded by tweeting a picture comparing his stats — favorably, of course — to those of the Yankees’ rotation in aggregate with the caption, “Straight cash homie.”

Stroman cites his 3.23 ERA, which handily beats the 4.49 mark of the Yankees’ rotation, as does his 3.80 FIP to their 4.74. He also highlights his 4.1 WAR across 31 starts to the Yankees 6.9 WAR across 135 starts, and his 0.91 HR/9 to the rotation’s 1.75.

While Stroman certainly would have been an upgrade for the rotation, he has been worse since being traded. He had a 2.96 ERA with a 99/35 K/BB ratio in 124 2/3 innings for the Jays. Since joining the Mets, he has a 3.86 ERA with a 52/22 K/BB ratio in 53 2/3 innings. His strikeout rate is up, but so too is his walk rate. And so is his home run rate, as he allowed 10 with the Jays and eight with the Mets in fewer than half the innings. Stroman’s numbers would likely be worse pitching half his games in the hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium rather than the more spacious Citi Field. The Yankees still could’ve used him, but Stroman’s picture doesn’t tell the whole story.

Anthony Volpe, 21, wins Yankees’ starting shortstop job

Associated PressMar 27, 2023, 12:02 PM EDT
Dave Nelson-USA TODAY Sp
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TAMPA, Fla. — Anthony Volpe grew up watching Derek Jeter star at shortstop for the New York Yankees.

Now, the 21-year-old is getting the chance to be the Yankees’ opening day shortstop against the San Francisco Giants.

The team announced after a 6-2 win over Toronto in spring training that Volpe had won the spot. New York manager Aaron Boone called the kid into his office to deliver the news.

“My heart was beating pretty hard,” said Volpe, rated one of baseball’s best prospects. “Incredible. I’m just so excited. It’s hard for me to even put into words.”

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, hitting coach Dillon Lawson and bench coach Carlos Mendoza were also present.

Volpe was able to share the news with his parents and other family members near the Yankees’ dugout and said it is something he will never forget.

“It was pretty emotional,” Volpe said. “It was just an unbelievable moment to share with them.”

Volpe, who grew up a Yankees fan, lived in Manhattan as a child before moving to New Jersey. Jeter was his favorite player.

“It’s very surreal,” Volpe said. “I’ve only ever been to games at Yankee Stadium and for the most part only watched him play there.”

Volpe is hitting .314 with three homers, five RBIs and a .417 on-base percentage in 17 Grapefruit League games. He has just 22 games of experience at Triple-A.

Spring training started with Volpe, Oswald Peraza and holdover Isiah Kiner-Falefa competing for the everyday shortstop job. Kiner-Falefa was shifted into a utility role midway through camp, and Peraza was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday evening.

“While certainly the performance was there, he killed it between the lines,” Boone said of Volpe. “All the other things that we’ve been hearing about showed up. There’s an energy he plays the game with, and an instinct that he has that is evident. He really checked every box that we could have had for him. Absolutely kicked the door in and earned his opportunity.”

Volpe arrived in Florida in December to work out at the Yankees’ minor league complex.

“He’s earned the right to take that spot, and we’re excited for him and excited for us,” Cashman said. “He just dominated all sides of the ball during February and March, and that bodes well obviously for him as we move forward.”

Volpe was selected out of high school with the 30th overall pick in the 2019 draft from Delbarton School in New Jersey. He passed up a college commitment to Vanderbilt to sign with the Yankees.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get into the organization,” Volpe said. “This day, this feeling, this moment was kind of what I’ve worked my whole life for when I made that big decision.”

“Right now it’s crazy,” he added. “I don’t even know what lies ahead but Thursday I just want to go out and play, and have fun.”