Boone on Stroman's absence: 'He's within his rights'

TAMPA, Fla. -- Marcus Stroman has been absent from Yankees camp for the past two days, which manager Aaron Boone said was expected following their conversation on Tuesday, when the veteran right-hander underwent a mandatory physical exam at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Boone said he ¡°had an idea¡± Stroman might miss time, and he has attempted to ¡°nudge¡± Stroman to rejoin his teammates. Though Monday marked the club¡¯s announced report date for pitchers and catchers, Major League Baseball¡¯s Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates all players must be in their respective camps by Feb. 22.

Stroman is expected to report before then. The hurler lives in the Tampa area and has posted several photos on his social media channels, including one on Thursday taken from the deck of a boat overlooking blue waters. Boone has acknowledged this spring could be ¡°awkward¡± for Stroman, who was mentioned in trade rumors this offseason.

¡°I certainly get how it all looks, with the noise around it this winter,¡± Boone said on Thursday. ¡°But the reality is, this is something that is under [the] CBA. Guys have this, and you see it over time periodically. I certainly understand the look around it, and obviously the story around it.

¡°I do feel like, having had communication with him last night and this morning, that he is ready to go mentally and physically and will hopefully be here in the next couple of days.¡±

Boone declined to provide Stroman¡¯s reasons for the absence, saying he would allow Stroman to speak for himself when he arrives.

¡°We had a very good conversation [on Tuesday] and I certainly wanted him here, but you have to respect the rules of the games, too,¡± Boone said. ¡°He¡¯s within his rights.¡±

Stroman pitched to a 10-9 record and a 4.31 ERA across 30 games (29 starts) with the Yankees last season, his first with the Bombers. He was moved to the bullpen in September after experiencing second-half struggles and did not appear in the postseason, then was further displaced from the rotation by the club¡¯s December signing of left-hander Max Fried.

With a stacked staff that features Gerrit Cole, Fried, Carlos Rod¨®n, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt, Stroman appears to be the sixth choice for a five-man rotation.

That has prompted trade speculation involving the 33-year-old Stroman, though no deal appears to be imminent. Stroman is owed $18 million in 2025, with a vesting option for the same amount in 2026 that would trigger if he tosses 140 innings.

Cole said he chatted with Stroman briefly on Tuesday and sensed that Stroman seemed to be ¡°feeling good.¡±

¡°It must be a unique and different situation [to be mentioned in trade rumors],¡± Cole said. ¡°That presents some challenges from the human side of things, for sure.¡±

Fried said that Stroman¡¯s absence has not been a significant source of conversation among the Yanks¡¯ pitchers.

¡°I don¡¯t really know Marcus,¡± Fried said. ¡°I¡¯ve heard wonderful things about him as a teammate. Guys in this clubhouse have only spoken glowingly about him. I¡¯m really excited to meet him.¡±

A 10-year veteran, Stroman owns a 3.72 career ERA, having also pitched for the Blue Jays (2014-19), Mets (2019, ¡¯21) and Cubs (2022-23).

¡°He¡¯s a prideful player. He¡¯s a guy who¡¯s had a great career,¡± Boone said. ¡°It¡¯s a little bit of an awkward situation. Of course, I want him here. I¡¯m trying to keep nudging him to get here. But again, you also have to respect the fact that this is something that players are allowed to do. There is a mandatory date [of Feb. 22], and he¡¯s choosing that right now.¡±