TAMPA — Whereas a number of recent faces arrived at Yankees camp on Tuesday, speak of two acquainted ones dominated Aaron Boone’s first press convention of the spring.
With pitchers and catchers reporting to George M. Steinbrenner Discipline, the supervisor answered a number of questions relating to DJ LeMahieu and Marcus Stroman, the latter of which spoke with Boone earlier within the day. Stroman has been the topic of commerce rumors because the offseason started, and he’s at the moment the odd man out of the Yankees’ rotation with Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt all forward of him.
However Stroman is owed $18 million this season, and a 2026 possibility for a similar wage will vest if he throws 140 innings. That contract, signed final offseason, and the lingering availability of some free agent starters has made the righty troublesome to maneuver.
“The situation is what it is,” Boone stated. “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 could also be in “a little bit of an awkward situation,” however he discovered their chat reassuring.
“I had a good conversation with him today,” the skipper stated. “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 stated that Stroman didn’t ask what his function can be ought to he stay on the staff and the projected rotation stays wholesome. In fact, if somebody will get damage, Stroman is an skilled insurance coverage coverage, although non-roster invitee Carlos Carrasco can be a less expensive one.
Boone added that he’s not fearful about Stroman being outspoken if issues don’t go his method and added that the 33-year-old was a “great teammate” all through an uneven first season within the Bronx final 12 months.
The Yankees pivoted to Stroman two offseasons in the past after Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers. Stroman, a Medford, Lengthy Island native, hit the bottom working, recording a 2.60 ERA over his first 12 begins.
Then he posted a 5.70 ERA over his closing 18 video games. That stretch included a bumped begin and a demotion to the bullpen. Stroman didn’t pitch in any postseason video games, and he completed the season with a 4.31 ERA over 154.2 innings.
His ERA was the Fifteenth-highest of any pitcher who threw not less than 150 innings. His 7.9 Ok-BB% was the worst in baseball, whereas his 1.47 WHIP ranked third-worst. The .275 common he allowed was fourth-worst.
Brian Cashman not too long ago advised the YES Community that the Yankees’ lackluster infield protection damage Stroman, a groundball pitcher, in 2024, however he doesn’t at the moment mission as a member of the rotation both method.
“We’re going to have to see how it plays out,” Cashman stated.
LeMahieu, in the meantime, seemed like a shell of his former self after breaking his foot on a foul ball — his second critical foot damage in three seasons — final spring. Restricted to only 67 video games, he slashed .204/.269/.259 with seven extra-base hits, two dwelling runs, 26 RBI and a 52 wRC+ earlier than a hip damage ended his season in September.
Like Stroman, LeMahieu didn’t play within the postseason. One other commonality is obstructive cash, as LeMahieu is owed $30 million over the subsequent two seasons.
Whereas some have puzzled if the Yankees will transfer on from LeMahieu earlier than Opening Day — they’ve lower bait with gamers owed related sums up to now — the membership is presently propping the veteran up as an possibility at third base.
“I’m not going to put anything past a healthy DJ LeMahieu and his ability to hit,” Boone stated. “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 famous that LeMahieu is certainly wholesome after accidents beforehand “zapped” the three-time All-Star. The supervisor favored what he noticed from LeMahieu earlier than he broke his foot final spring, and he’s been inspired by his work at Himes, the Yankees’ participant improvement complicated, over the previous couple of days.
Boone additionally stated “who he’s been” up to now offers him religion that LeMahieu can bounce again.
Nevertheless, this isn’t 2016 or 2020 — the years LeMahieu gained batting titles — and the 36-year-old has steadily declined since that final accolade.
“I understand there’s nothing that’s a given or a guarantee,” Boone stated, “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 shouldn’t be the one participant competing for the recent nook. Children Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas are additionally within the working, although no member of the quartet is inspiring followers with the Yankees vying for his or her second straight World Collection journey and first championship since 2009.
Boone talked about that third may develop into a “shared position” however added that spring coaching is a “great opportunity for somebody to grab it.”
There’s additionally an opportunity that the Yankees seize an exterior candidate, although there aren’t many upgrades at the moment out there with place gamers formally reporting on Feb. 16.
“There’s always the marketplace,” Cashman famous throughout his look on YES.
