The time is nearing for Marcus Stroman, who will soon pitch in Spring Training with the New York Yankees in a sort of test to see how ready he is to be a starter. It’s worth noting that weeks ago, Marcus Stroman made it clear that he didn’t want to be a reliever and that his sole focus is as a starter.

It has been difficult to miss his absence from drills, when some starters are already throwing live batting practice sessions.

Marcus Stroman will start the Yankees’ spring training opener on Friday against the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field, but it has nothing to do with his role or status on the trading block. “It’s just how the live BPs and everything [worked out],

Marcus Stroman, who missed the first two days of workouts with his fellow Yankees pitchers and catchers — his right under the collective bargaining agreement, which doesn’t require players to be on the field until Feb. 22 — arrived at Steinbrenner Field early Friday morning.

Stroman will start Friday’s game against the Rays at Steinbrenner Field, manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday, putting the potential odd man out of the Yankees’ rotation right into the spotlight. The veteran right-hander has not faced hitters since arriving at camp on Friday, but had done so beforehand and will just throw one inning on Friday.

Yankees right-hander Marcus Stroman’s isn’t looking at 140 innings as a goal for this season to trigger an $18-million player option for 2026. The extra starter — No. 6 in a five-man rotation — wants to blow by 140 into a territory that he hasn’t been to in any of his last seven seasons.

Marcus Stroman does not feel he needs to win a rotation spot, because in his mind he is not competing for a spot.

Marcus Stroman continues to operate in his own little world at New York Yankees spring training, not just refusing to head to the bullpen but now refusing to even acknowledge that he's pitching for a job over the next few weeks.

One can question all day whether or not the Yankees should put any sort of financial restrictions on themselves as the most profitable team in Major League Baseball. But ultimatel