Yankees appear to have changed opinion on All-Star free agent

The New York Yankees seem to be warming up to one particular free agent.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported on Wednesday that the Yankees have now emerged as the top candidate to sign veteran righty Marcus Stroman in free agency. Morosi adds that the two sides have had prodcutive discussions in recent days.

This appears to be a notable change of position for the Yankees. The 32-year-old Stroman was said last week to have “serious interest” in joining the Yankees, but the Yankees (to that point) had reportedly failed to reciprocate.

Ever since acquiring Juan Soto in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres last month, the Yankees have been very selective on where to spend their funds. Reliever Cody Poteet is the only free agent that the Yankees have signed to their MLB roster so far, as they are seemingly looking for reasons *not* to sign other big free agents out there.

Stroman, though an All-Star last year with the Chicago Cubs, is not quite a perfect fit. He has a low whiff rate, doesn’t eat as many innings as you would like and comes with maturity concerns (including from when he famously dissed the Yankees a few years ago). But with the Yankees thin on proven righties behind Gerrit Cole – and clearly hesitant to spend up for the top pitchers on the market – Stroman may represent a good middle ground.