Stroman Insists He's "Very Detached" From His Yankees Controvery, Ready to Move On

Marcus Stroman blew into NY Yankees camp this month a couple of days late, and one big demand: He insists he's a starting pitcher and will not pitch out of the bullpen. That's despite the fact that he is currently not listed among the starting rotation.

Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and Luis Gil are the obvious top four, while Clarke Schmidt is the No. 5 starter. He is, however, dealing with a back problem and is questionable for the start of the season.

Either way, Stroman is taking the 'What, me worry?' approach.

Jon Heyman reports in The New York Post that when Stroman was asked if he feels everything will work itself out for him in Pinstripes, he replied:

“I think everything’s going to work out in general. I don’t know where it may be.

I love it here. I think everyone knows that in this clubhouse. But I also understand it’s a business. So there’s no hard feelings either way. If it does, amazing. If it doesn’t, amazing.

“That’s the kind of place I’m in. I’m very detached from it. If I’m going to sit here and mull over it, it’s just going to cause me more stress.”

Stroman often brings a swagger that can rub people the wrong way, but you've got to admire his ability to cut through the noise and just go about his business.

Stroman's ERA and WHIP have risen steadily over each of the last four seasons, while his strikeout count, never great at the best of times, has fallen over each of those four years.

He finished 2024, his first with the Yankees, with an eight-year high 4.31 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP with just 6.6 K/9.