Marcus Stroman's Bold Return to Yankees Camp

Marcus Stroman, the Yankees' right-hander, made a grand entrance to camp, but not before skipping the first two days of workouts. He didn't just show up; he declared his intentions loud and clear. "I'm a starter, " he repeated 11 times in just 10 minutes. He wasn't just stating his preference; he was making a point. He wasn't going to pitch in the bullpen. It was a clear message to the Yankees. Stroman's bold stance comes after an offseason where the Yankees tried to trade him, but no one bit. He's now the odd man out in the rotation, but one injury could change that. He was under no obligation to report to camp until Feb. 22, as per the CBA rules. He chose to arrive on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day. He felt the vibes were right. He was ready to roll. Stroman's offseason was tough. He lost his Malibu home to the January fires. But he's got another home in the Tampa area, where he was before joining his teammates. He's ready to compete at any level, with any team. He's ready to give 30-plus starts. Aaron Boone, the Yankees manager, wasn't worried about Stroman's insistence on not pitching out of the bullpen. He's focused on getting Stroman ready to go. The club won't have to make any roster decisions for nearly six weeks. That's a long time in baseball. Stroman's return to camp was a mix of determination and resilience. He's ready to face whatever comes his way. He's ready to prove himself. He's ready to be a starter. He's ready to be a Yankee.