Marcus Stroman insists on rotation spot, Yankees still uncertain about pitching plans

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New York Yankees right-hander Marcus Stroman wasted no time addressing his role for the upcoming season. After missing the team’s first two days of spring training workouts—non-mandatory sessions he was not required to attend—Stroman arrived at camp and made one thing clear.

“I’m a starter. I won’t pitch in the bullpen,” Marcus Stroman told reporters on Friday.

The 33-year-old reiterated his stance multiple times, firmly rejecting the possibility of a bullpen role. However, with the Yankees boasting a projected five-man rotation featuring Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt, Stroman appears to be on the outside looking in.

Boone’s response to the rotation question

Despite Marcus Stroman’s firm stance, Yankees manager Aaron Boone remained diplomatic when discussing the team’s pitching situation. While he didn’t rule out the possibility of a six-man rotation, Boone emphasized that, at the moment, no such plan exists.

“I love Stro,” Boone said via NJ. “I think you guys know how much I care about all of our guys. I’ll get to know new guys that I haven’t got to manage. Getting to experience Stro in a full season last year, he was a pro. He’s someone that I’ve got a lot of love and respect for. So, of course, you feel for those kind of things. Fortunately for me, I’ve been in their shoes a lot. We’re all different, right, but I’ve experienced a lot of things that these guys have to go through and deal with being a major league player. “

The Yankees reportedly explored trading Marcus Stroman during the offseason but struggled to find a suitor willing to take on his $18.3 million salary for 2025. The right-hander also has a vesting option for 2026 at the same salary if he reaches 140 innings pitched this season—something that could be difficult if he isn’t in the starting rotation.

What’s next for Marcus Stroman and the Yankees?

Until his role is finalized, Marcus Stroman plans to continue preparing as a starter throughout spring training.

“I know who I am as a pitcher,” he said. “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.”

Boone echoed that sentiment, making it clear that Marcus Stroman is being built up as a starter for now.

“We’re getting him ready, we’re building him up to be a starting pitcher,” Boone said. “We’ll obviously address anything we have to once we get into certain situations. But right now, the focus is getting him ready to go.”

While Boone spoke highly of Marcus Stroman’s professionalism, the reality remains that unless one of the Yankees’ five starters suffers an injury or a trade materializes, Stroman’s path to staying in the rotation is unclear. For now, both sides appear committed to letting spring training play out before making any firm decisions.

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