TAMPA — While several fresh faces arrived at Yankees camp on Tuesday, talk of two familiar ones dominated Aaron Boone’s first press conference of the spring.
With pitchers and catchers reporting to George M. Steinbrenner Field, the manager answered multiple questions regarding DJ LeMahieu and Marcus Stroman, the latter of which spoke with Boone earlier in the day. Stroman has been the subject of trade rumors since the offseason began, and he’s currently the odd man out of the Yankees’ rotation with Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt all ahead of him.
But Stroman is owed $18 million this season, and a 2026 option for the same salary will vest if he throws 140 innings. That contract, signed last offseason, and the lingering availability of some free agent starters has made the righty difficult to move.
“The situation is what it is,” Boone said. “We have a lot of guys who you would expect to be starting pitchers in the big leagues, Marcus being one of them.
“He certainly understands the situation. I’m sure he’s heard some of the things this winter.”
Boone went on to acknowledge that Stroman may be in “a little bit of an awkward situation,” but he found their chat reassuring.
“I had a good conversation with him today,” the skipper said. “Feel like he’s in a good mental place. He’s physically ready to go. And the bottom line is, we’re getting him ready to pitch. Those things kind of have a way of working themselves out, especially as we sit here in the middle of February. Cream rises to the top, and I feel like it’ll work itself out. But right now, it’s about getting him ready to go to be a real contributor.”
Boone said that Stroman did not ask what his role will be should he remain on the team and the projected rotation stays healthy. Of course, if someone gets hurt, Stroman is an experienced insurance policy, though non-roster invitee Carlos Carrasco would be a cheaper one.
Boone added that he’s not worried about Stroman being outspoken if things don’t go his way and added that the 33-year-old was a “great teammate” throughout an uneven first season in the Bronx last year.
The Yankees pivoted to Stroman two offseasons ago after Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers. Stroman, a Medford, Long Island native, hit the ground running, recording a 2.60 ERA over his first 12 starts.
Then he posted a 5.70 ERA over his final 18 games. That stretch included a bumped start and a demotion to the bullpen. Stroman didn’t pitch in any postseason games, and he finished the season with a 4.31 ERA over 154.2 innings.
His ERA was the 15th-highest of any pitcher who threw at least 150 innings. His 7.9 K-BB% was the worst in baseball, while his 1.47 WHIP ranked third-worst. The .275 average he allowed was fourth-worst.
Brian Cashman recently told the YES Network that the Yankees’ lackluster infield defense hurt Stroman, a groundball pitcher, in 2024, but he doesn’t currently project as a member of the rotation either way.
“We’re going to have to see how it plays out,” Cashman said.
LeMahieu, meanwhile, looked like a shell of his former self after breaking his foot on a foul ball — his second serious foot injury in three seasons — last spring. Limited to just 67 games, he slashed .204/.269/.259 with seven extra-base hits, two home runs, 26 RBI and a 52 wRC+ before a hip injury ended his season in September.
Like Stroman, LeMahieu did not play in the postseason. Another commonality is obstructive money, as LeMahieu is owed $30 million over the next two seasons.
While some have wondered if the Yankees will move on from LeMahieu before Opening Day — they’ve cut bait with players owed similar sums in the past — the club is presently propping the veteran up as an option at third base.
“I’m not going to put anything past a healthy DJ LeMahieu and his ability to hit,” Boone said. “There’s always going to be the naysayers out there, but really, this is in and around a guy that is a great hitter who’s had some tough, nagging, bad injuries that have cut into that greatness. So there’s no telling what he may be able to do if he’s healthy.”
Boone noted that LeMahieu is indeed healthy after injuries previously “zapped” the three-time All-Star. The manager liked what he saw from LeMahieu before he broke his foot last spring, and he’s been encouraged by his work at Himes, the Yankees’ player development complex, over the last few days.
Boone also said “who he’s been” in the past gives him faith that LeMahieu can bounce back.
However, this isn’t 2016 or 2020 — the years LeMahieu won batting titles — and the 36-year-old has steadily declined since that last accolade.
“I understand there’s nothing that’s a given or a guarantee,” Boone said, “but if you’re telling me we’re going to look up in June and DJ is right in the middle of a significant role on this team, it won’t surprise me.”
LeMahieu is not the only player competing for the hot corner. Youngsters Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas are also in the running, though no member of the quartet is inspiring fans with the Yankees vying for their second straight World Series trip and first championship since 2009.
Boone mentioned that third could become a “shared position” but added that spring training is a “great opportunity for somebody to grab it.”
There’s also a chance that the Yankees grab an external candidate, though there aren’t many upgrades currently available with position players officially reporting on Feb. 16.
“There’s always the marketplace,” Cashman noted during his appearance on YES.