Marcus Stroman’s new Yankees contract contains 1 interesting clause

Aug 15, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (0) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Stroman can sweeten the pot for himself in his new contract with the New York Yankees.

The All-Star righty Stroman agreed to terms with the Yankees this week on a multi-year deal. The Yankees now become Stroman’s fourth team in the last five years.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Thursday on an interesting incentive clause that Stroman has in his new Yankees contract. Sherman revealed that if Stroman hits 140 innings pitched in 2025, he has the ability to gain an extra year on his contract (at $18 million for 2026). Stroman will otherwise become a free agent after the 2025 campaign but would have the choice of either becoming a free agent or triggering his 2026 option year if he hits the 140-innings-pitched benchmark.

For Stroman, who will turn 33 this May, the workload is one of the main concerns with him. He has not thrown 200 innings in a single season since 2017 and doesn’t usually go past the fifth or sixth inning. But 140 innings is a mark that should be very attainable for Stroman since he threw 138.2 and 136.2 in the last two seasons, respectively. Now Stroman has a good reason to strive for availability as a member of the Yankees, who may not be done adding starting pitchers yet.