Stroman says he and Cashman 'hashed out' past beef during contract talks - ESPN

NEW YORK — Brian Cashman apologized to Marcus Stroman over 2019 remarks the Yankees general manager made before New York negotiated a $37 million, two-year contract with the 32-year-old right-hander.

Cashman discussed trading for Stroman with Toronto before the Blue Jays dealt the pitcher to the New York Mets in July 2019.

«We were interested in Stroman but we didn't think he would be a difference-maker,» Cashman told Yahoo Sports in 2019. «We felt he would be in our bullpen in the postseason.»

Cashman said he apologized at the time through Stroman's agent and directly to Stroman during negotiations this offseason.

«I just said for the amount of talent they wanted back, it wasn't going to be enough of a difference-maker,» Cashman said during a Zoom news conference Thursday. «That was my bad, because then how it played wasn't certainly how it was intended.»

Stroman spoke with Cashman by phone during negotiations.

«Me and Cashman kind of hashed out whatever it was that we had from a few years ago,» Stroman said during a Zoom call earlier Thursday. «We kind of laughed about it and we moved on.»

A two-time All-Star, Stroman missed six weeks last season with the Chicago Cubs because of inflammation in his right hip and then a rib cartilage fracture. He finished 10-9 with a 3.95 ERA that was his highest since 2018, leaving him 77-76 with a 3.65 ERA since making his big league debut in 2014.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone visited Stroman's home during the recruiting process, and Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rizzo and Anthony Volpe also spoke with the free agent.

«This is an ultimate competitor. This is someone that wants the big stage, wants the bright lights,» Cashman said. «There is a population of major league talent that