Aaron Boone Breaks Silence on the Unfamiliar Calm in Yankees Clubhouse Since Marcus Stronman’s Defiance

It’s surprising how the calm surfaced shortly after what could’ve easily stirred the Yankees’ season into controversy. At the center of it all is New York Yankees’ right-hander—Marcus Stroman. Back in February, with ample confidence, he made it pretty clear that he had zero interest in pitching out of the bullpen. So, let’s just say the Yankees’ front office might not have projected him into the starting rotation. But Stroman wasn’t aligned on that.

He didn’t flinch to draw a line. “I’m a starter.” He said it repeatedly. “I won’t pitch in the bullpen. I’m a starter. I’m a starter.” He also added, “If I’m here, if I’m not here, my body is ready to roll. I’m ready to go out there and give 30-plus starts.” It might occur to you that statements like those would’ve easily sparked a fire in the Bronx.

But that’s not what happened. It didn’t explode headlines or even cause any tension in the locker room. It’s been eleven weeks into the 2025 season, and the only noise you’d be able to hear in Yankeeland comes from their bats.

It’s strange and equally rare, especially considering the fact that the Yankees come under the brightest spotlights in the league. The potential of the controversy didn’t go unnoticed, though. Manager Aaron Boone opened up about it just one night before Saturday’s game against the Red Sox.

He didn’t directly refer to Stroman’s stance. He did acknowledge the unfamiliar calm in the Yankees clubhouse since Marcus Stroman’s defiance. “You want to eliminate distractions as much as you can. You know they’re inevitable; sometimes they’re louder, sometimes they’re unseen.” Boone actually knows that a team like the Yankees doesn’t live in a vacuum.

He stated, “You’re always going to have things that pop up, baseball-related or otherwise, over the course of the year when you have a large family, a large group.” It was that kind of quiet that followed a loud declaration. Stroman’s defiance was capable of setting a stage for unrest. While we’re on this, the word out there is Stroman might not be in the Bronx for a long time. What’s all that about?

Are the Yankees considering trading Marcus Stroman?

As it turns out, Marcus Stroman’s future with the Yankees is hanging in the balance. After two roller coaster seasons and tensions with the franchise, the veteran pitcher might be around the trade buzz. The man behind the revelation is Max Goodman from NJ Advance Media. Reportedly, the Yankees are seriously considering trading Marcus Stroman. That too, after finishing off a 40-pitch session at Yankee stadium.

The main reason is his contract, apparently. The thing is, the contract prevents him from being sent to Triple-A. Well, even though Stroman has cleared it up that he’s a starter, he hasn’t displayed it in the rotation.

He got a shot at the beginning of the season with injury setbacks to Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt. His performance hasn’t been that stellar. Across 9.1 innings, he allowed 12 runs. It was enough to raise questions about his abilities on the mound.

His contract guarantees him $18.5 million per season. It is yet another factor that the Yankees are mulling over. See, $18.5 million is a hefty salary. And the Yankees, on the other hand, are freeing up the payroll space. Why, you ask? Simply to bolster some space to other key areas. And then again, Stroman’s contract clause prevents him from going to the minors, which also complicates the situation.

The Yankees are currently evaluating all sides of the Stroman dilemma. For now, this trade makes all the sense for the Yankees.

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