Should the Guardians take a flier on this former All-Star pitcher?

On Thursday, Marcus Stroman took the mound for the New York Yankees as trade rumors swirled. While the team’s front office closed deals for pitchers like David Bednar and Camilo Doval, Stroman tried his hardest to keep the Yankees in the game. 

After all was said and done, Stroman exited after allowing four runs across five innings in an eventual Yankees win. 

We didn’t know it at the time, but it marked the last time we'd see him in pinstripes.

On Friday, the team announced that it had released Stroman as a part of the corresponding moves to add their deadline acquisitions to the active roster, meaning that any of the other 29 teams in baseball can now sign him.

Should the Guardians take a flier on Marcus Stroman?

At face value, the answer to that question is likely no considering the 34-year-old now has a 6.23 ERA across 39 innings this season.

His troubles began early when he arrived late to camp after the team floated the idea of moving him to the bullpen… only for him to start the season in the rotation after three starters went down.

Stroman himself then only lasted three ineffective starts before going on the injured list with a knee injury that kept him out until mid-June. 

Although Stroman’s pitched better since returning 4.55 ERA in 29 2/3 innings, it still doesn’t look like he has anything left in the tank. 

He currently ranks in the third percentile in hard-hit rate, the fourth in strikeout rate and the fifth in expected ERA. 

The biggest thing that would be going in his favor would be the value, as the Yankees are already on the hook for the remaining $6 million he’s owed on his $18.5 million salary. But even that may not be enough for Cleveland to be interested, even with the team’s open rotation spot. 

Yes, Stroman has two All-Star nods on his résumé and posted a 3.50 ERA in 2022, but the past two years have largely been a disaster. He also has been a headache in the clubhouse and was initially left off their postseason roster last year. 

He also may not be better than Joey Cantillo, who is currently occupying the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Adding Stroman to the roster would either a.) move Cantillo to the bullpen or b.) send Cantillo back to Triple-A and send some bullpen arm to roster purgatory. 

Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams and Slade Cecconi aren't going anywhere, and Logan Allen has been pitching better as of late. Cleveland’s starting rotation has been one of the team’s strengths over the past month (4.07), and adding Stroman would do more harm than good.

That said, he'll likely get a shot somewhere given his pedigree and the rash of pitching injuries throughout the league. It shouldn't be in Cleveland.