Marcus Stroman, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, showed up at spring training on Friday following a brief holdout. However, Stroman doesn’t believe his arrival was delayed, as the Collective Bargaining Agreement requires players to report by February 22. “Technically, I’m early,” Stroman told reporters.
Regardless, Stroman arrived at Yankees camp with uncertainty surrounding his role. Unless another starter gets injured, Stroman is expected to begin the season in the bullpen—unless the Yankees trade him before then. Stroman made his stance clear about potentially switching roles, stating, “I’m a starter. I won’t pitch in the bullpen. I’m a starter.”
Stroman recorded a 10-9 record and a 4.31 ERA in 30 games (29 starts) last year. The Yankees moved him to the bullpen in September, and he didn’t throw a pitch during the Bombers’ World Series run.
Stroman continues to be a frequent subject of trade speculation. The Yankees are on the hook for $18 million for him this season, and he could secure another $18 million for 2026 if he pitches 140 innings. Last year, the two-time All-Star logged 154.2 innings.
When reporters asked manager Aaron Boone on Friday about the possibility of using a six-man rotation, Boone responded, “Never say never.” He added, “I don’t necessarily see us doing that, but we’ll see where we’re at,” according to the Yankees’ official website. After Stroman’s remarks, Yankees fans expressed their criticism of him on X (formerly Twitter).
One user wrote, “He should be willing to pitch in the bullpen for part of the season if the team needs it.” Another called him a “bad teammate.” A third user commented, “You were horrible, go to the pen and win back your job.” One X user even suggested the Yankees should trade Stroman right away, stating, “We don’t need that attitude on the team.”
