TAMPA — Aaron Boone not less than acknowledged that the scenario has the potential to be “awkward” this spring for Marcus Stroman.
However with the Yankees veteran coming into camp as a commerce candidate and the seemingly odd man out of the rotation if the highest 5 starters keep wholesome, Stroman had a dialog with Boone on Tuesday morning that the supervisor left feeling good about.
“I’m greater than comfy with the dialog I had with Marcus immediately and the place his psychological preparation is, the place I feel he’s bodily,” Boone mentioned Tuesday after pitchers and catchers reported to George M. Steinbrenner Subject. “We’re in a great place. He definitely understands the scenario. I’m certain he’s heard a few of the issues this winter. You’ll be able to’t management all the things. … Going on the market and doing all of your job at a excessive stage has a approach of quieting a few of these issues.
“The underside line is we’re getting him able to pitch.”
Left unsaid was the place or in what position Stroman might be pitching, although it could take just one damage to a member of the Yankees rotation for the right-hander to grow to be an vital issue once more.
Boone mentioned Stroman didn’t ask him what his position can be this yr, however the supervisor’s message was basically to let issues work themselves out.
“The scenario is what it’s,” Boone mentioned. “We’ve got numerous guys that you’d anticipate to be beginning pitchers within the huge leagues, Marcus being a kind of. … The cream rises to the highest and I really feel prefer it’ll work itself out. However proper now, it’s about getting him able to go to be an actual contributor.
“It’s possibly a little bit little bit of a clumsy scenario, simply with all of the noise round it this winter, however I’m comfy with the place he’s in his focus and bodily preparation coming in.”
A yr after signing with the Yankees, Stroman is about to make $18 million this season and can set off an $18.3 million possibility for subsequent yr if he pitches 140 innings.
Transferring his wage — or not less than a part of it — might enable the Yankees to get underneath the very best luxurious tax threshold (which they’re at the moment projected to exceed by about $4 million), however up to now they’ve but to discover a taker for him.
Within the meantime, Stroman arrived at camp on Tuesday coming off a season by which he posted a 4.31 ERA throughout 154 ²/₃ innings — although he had a 5.97 ERA over his ultimate 14 outings, which bounced him to the bullpen by September and left him out of motion within the postseason.
“The most important factor proper now’s ensuring we’re getting Marcus able to roll,” Boone mentioned, “and hopefully play an enormous position for us.”