TAMPA, Fla. — Marcus Stroman made his way to the New York Yankees’ spring training on Friday after missing the initial two days of practice. He made it clear that he has no intention of taking on a bullpen role. “I won’t pitch in the bullpen. I’m a starter,” he asserted, reiterating the phrase “I’m a starter” multiple times in rapid succession during a brief interview.
The Yankees currently have Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt lined up as their primary starting pitchers, which raises the possibility of Stroman being placed in the bullpen—unless he is traded or if injuries occur to the other players. Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated, “We’re building him up to be a starting pitcher and that’s so far out there. As we go, we’ll address things as they come up.”
In contrast to other teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, who are considering six-man pitching rotations, Boone expressed doubt that the Yankees would adopt this strategy. “Never say never. I don’t necessarily see us doing that,” he explained. “The reality is we’re probably getting 10, 11 guys ready to be starters, and who knows how many of them you’re going to have to utilize right away or at some point during the season?”
Stroman is set to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. Despite being one of the shorter pitchers in Major League Baseball, he emphasized his durability, stating, “How many people can stay healthy and do it 30-plus starts year after year and year, especially after being the one that they said could never do it at my size?”
Although the 33-year-old right-hander is not obligated to attend spring training until February 22 due to the collective bargaining agreement, he decided to arrive early. “I just felt like today was a good day to come,” he noted, referencing Valentine’s Day as a positive time for his arrival.
Stroman had previously discussed the timing of his appearance with Boone. “I don’t think there was a need for me to be here in the last few days given the climate,” he explained. After their conversation, he expressed confidence that his relationship with teammates remains strong. “Everything’s honestly perfect and seamless. I feel great to be back and I’m ready to roll,” he added.
Stroman is set to earn an $18 million salary in the second year of a $37 million, two-year deal. He holds a conditional player option for 2026, which could activate if he pitches at least 140 innings this season. During his first season with the Yankees, he posted a record of 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA, making 29 starts along with one relief appearance. However, he struggled in September, finishing with a 0-3 record and an 8.80 ERA in four outings, ultimately being left off the Division Series roster, although he was included for the League Championship and World Series, where he did not pitch.
Stroman expressed a willingness to serve in a relief capacity during the playoffs, noting, “Playoffs, there’s different roles. I was completely fine with that. But overall, I’m a starter.” He emphasized his experience over the past decade, highlighting the rarity of maintaining health and performance at a high level.
With a career record of 87-85 and a 3.72 ERA accumulated over ten Major League seasons, Stroman’s role is likely to be pivotal for the Yankees this season. Boone shared his relief at Stroman’s arrival, commenting on his positive mindset and readiness. “Glad he’s here today. He really is in a good frame of mind. It’s our job to help him get ready and, yeah, hopefully put it behind us,” Boone concluded.