Part 7/8:
The dialogue culminated in discussions about the trade market—particularly revolving around Marcus Stroman and his challenging $18 million contract. Joel highlighted a tightly-knit market for pitchers, with free-agent options continuing to drone on. He articulated a reality where the Yankees would likely need to make substantial concessions to move Stroman's contract, which doesn’t bode well for acquiring additional assets.
Despite this, Joel remained optimistic about the ongoing negotiations expected around spring training but acknowledged the need for shrewd maneuvering and flexibility within rosters.