Marcus Stroman did not participate in the New York Yankees\' first two spring training workouts. He stayed away from camp after reporting for his physical Tuesday.
Aaron Boone said he was in communication with him both Wednesday night and Thursday morning, declining to divulge Stroman\'s reasoning for the absence.
Stroman, 33, does not project to make the Yankees\' five-man rotation. Stroman is owed $18.5 million this season with an $18 million player option for 2026 should he log at least 140 innings in 2025. The Yankees are trying to trade Stroman to unload his salary.
\"There\'s always rumors -- false, true -- and, frankly, that\'s usually above me anyway until something is real,\" Boone said. \"So, no, we didn\'t get into that at all other than to acknowledge that there\'s been, obviously, the noise and the situation that he walks into and having six, seven, eight starters, all that. He\'s ready to compete.\"
Stroman recorded a 4.31 ERA in 30 appearances (29 starts) across 154 2/3 innings in his first season with the Yankees and 10th as a big leaguer.