The Yankees released starting pitcher Marcus Stroman after being active in solidifying their staff with a flurry of trade deadline deals.

MIAMI — With Luis Gil set to make his regular season debut on Sunday in Miami, something had to give in the Yankees’ starting rotation. Either Cam Schlittler or Will Warren would be heading down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or veteran starter Marcus Stroman would be on his way out.

The New York Yankees made nine trades to improve their roster, but if general manager Brian Cashman had it his way, there would have been more. The Yankees improved almost every corner of their roster.

Ben Rice hit a three-run homer in the second inning after Giancarlo Stanton blasted a two-run shot in the first as the host New York Yankees raced out to a seven-run lead and recorded a 7-4 victory over the sliding Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon in the final game before the trade deadline.

On a day that Aaron Boone described as exciting for some players and anxious for others, the Yankees took care of business on the field with the trade deadline looming over them.