Perhaps. But I've never seen this before. New plants. No odor, upper grayed nodes are squishy, crown and lower nodes are not. Would you plant these?

Yes, I would plant. Cut or pull off soft material, maybe plant a little high for good drainage. Looks like there is still life there.

I think I might plant them in a pot in a separate area. I have never seen roots looking like that either and would be afraid those plants might spread some type of disease and contaminate the garden soil. They may be perfectly fine, but they may not be also. But, what ever you do please post back what actions you took and how the plants have reacted.

I'd pot it. There looks to be a brown lesion on the leaf base also.

Thanks for the advice, all. I've decided to discard, not expensive and not willing to risk this. I got another plant from the same seller a couple weeks ago, looked normal and is already growing in my garden. No seller bashing, s**t happens. I've been crazy hygiene aware after handling, so hopefully have not infected any others.

Darn, I was hoping you would pot it and let us know how it did, but I can totally understand you decision to discard it. Space and time is often too limited for experiments you might come to regret.

@Seedfork fought hard to try and save a huge snake plant I bought this winter. Fungicide administration per package directions and two repottings (in the bathtub, in winter), lesions kept forming. Gave up before it could take out the rest I grow. These little things are just not worth the fight.