TAMPA, Fla. – After a two-day absence, Marcus Stroman arrived Friday morning at Yankees camp and repeatedly declared his intended role for 2025.
“I’m a starter. I won’t pitch in the bullpen,’’ said Stroman. “I’m a starter.’’
Currently, Stroman is the sixth man in a five-man Yankee rotation, and he chose – as was his collectively bargained right – not to report during the initial days of team workouts.
Stroman could have stayed away until Feb. 22, but even a 48-hour absence sends a message to management about his status.
Doesn’t it?
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“No. Not at all,’’ Stroman said.
Twice in the previous two days, Yankees manager Aaron Boone termed the Stroman situation “a little bit awkward,’’ but asserted his rights under the CBA.
Stroman said he placed “a priority on getting my body ready; I don’t think there was a need for me to be here the last few days, given the climate.’’
The right-hander didn’t clearly identify that climate, but the math is clear. Unless the Yankees lose a starter to injury, there’s no calculus that puts Stroman in Boone’s rotation.
Boone said Friday that he doesn’t plan on using a six-man rotation, though he wouldn’t completely rule it out.
“I’m glad he’s here,’’ said Boone. “As I’ve maintained, he really is in a good frame of mind. And I think he’s ready to go physically, mentally.’’
To date, the Yankees’ inability to find a suitable trade for Stroman has created this early spring training headache.
Stroman’s contract is viewed as a hindrance; he’s due $18 million this season and would earn $18 million next year if he reaches 140 innings in 2025.
That almost certainly requires the Yankees to absorb a chunk of that potential 2026 salary in a deal.
“If I’m here, if I’m not here, I’m ready to roll,’’ said Stroman, who said he could throw “five or six innings’’ today, based on his offseason work, which includes throwing to live batters.
“I’m in incredible shape. My arm feels great,’’ said Stroman, 33, who struggled after a solid first half of 2024 as a Yankee and was frozen out of the Yanks’ postseason plans.
Last month, Stroman said he lost his Malibu home due to the fires that ravaged Southern California, and has spent time helping those impacted communities.
“I’m truly focused on today,’’ said Stroman, so the idea of what might happen if he’s still a Yankee in six weeks and there’s no rotation vacancy isn’t front of mind.
“I’m being completely honest, I haven’t even thought about tomorrow,’’ said Stroman. “There’s so many unpredictable.’’
Boone didn’t want to move the calendar past Valentine’s Day, either.
“Right now, the focus is getting him ready’’ as a starter, Boone said. “As things come our way, we’ll address them.’’
Boone said Stroman is “somebody I’ve got a lot of love and respect for,’’ and Stroman added his relationship with the manager and his teammates remains strong.
After taking his physical here Tuesday, “I told them I’d be in a few days after that,’’ said Stroman. “I have a lot of respect for Boonie, I think he’s an incredible manager.’’