TAMPA — Marcus Stroman claims he was not making a statement by skipping the first two days of workouts.
But the Yankees right-hander arrived at camp Friday with a clear message.
“I’m a starter,” Stroman said 11 times during a 10-minute session with reporters Friday morning at Steinbrenner Field.
“I won’t pitch in the bullpen.”
Stroman’s stance comes after an offseason in which the Yankees tried to trade him, though they have not yet found a taker.
The veteran enters camp as the projected odd man out of the rotation, but it would only take one injury to change that equation.
Under the CBA rules, Stroman was not required to report to camp until Feb. 22, which he referred to multiple times.
“I don’t think there was a need for me to be here in the last few days, given the climate,” Stroman said. “I talked to [Aaron Boone], we had a great conversation. Everything’s honestly perfect and seamless. My relationship with the guys in the clubhouse hasn’t changed. I feel great to be back and I’m ready to roll.
Marcus Stroman arrives at Yankees camp on Feb. 14, 2025.
“I know I can compete at any level, with any team. If I’m here, if I’m not here, my body’s ready to roll. I’m ready to go out there and give 30-plus starts.”
Neither Boone nor general manager Brian Cashman had an issue with Stroman’s comments, indicating that they are in fact getting him ready to be a starter and cautioning that they won’t have to make any roster decisions for nearly six weeks, which is an eternity in baseball.
“That’s vintage Stro,” Cashman said when asked about Stroman’s insistence on being a starter. “He’s a competitor. He’s fought his way through pro ball to being a hell of a starter for quite some time. So as a competitor, he is a starter. And I agree with him: He is a starter. Let’s just see how everything plays out.”
“We’ll obviously address anything we have to once we get into certain situations,” Boone added. “But right now, the focus is getting him ready to go.”
As for why Friday was the right day for him to report?
Marcus Stroman did not pitch during the postseason.Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“Just felt like today was a good day to come,” Stroman said. “Valentine’s Day, feel like the vibes are going to be proper. Everyone’s happy on this day.”
Stroman also said it has been a difficult offseason for him, disclosing that he lost his home in Malibu with the fires in January.
The 33-year-old’s primary home is in the Tampa area, which is where he was before joining his teammates at camp on Friday.
Cashman said Stroman has not indicated that he prefers to be traded, though the Yankees have tried to do so anyways.
But Stroman’s $18 million salary — plus an $18 million vesting option for 2026 that will trigger if he throws 140 innings this season — is likely making it more difficult for the Yankees to trade him.
Stroman has largely been durable in his career, which is of value, though in the past few seasons his performance has declined in the second half.
He had a 3.15 ERA through his first 16 starts last year before posting a 5.97 ERA over his final 14 outings.
Still, Stroman insisted he is not worried about what will happen this spring. He spent his first morning back in the clubhouse catching up with teammates and staffers and then took the field for workouts.
“Everyone in that clubhouse I have nothing but love for and they all know that,” Stroman said. “This is part of the business that has nothing to do with my love for everybody in there.”
