Yankees’ Marcus Stroman Discusses Being Moved to Bullpen: ‘I Have No Ego Nowadays’

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IISeptember 21, 2024

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The New York Yankees recently moved starting pitcher Marcus Stroman to the bullpen, but the 33-year-old right-hander has handled the switch well.

“I have no ego nowadays, man,” Stroman told Brandon Kuty of The Athletic. “I’m not this younger guy. I’m not 23-year-old me.

“Like I said, I know how much I’ve contributed to this team to get to this point, and I’m open to doing whatever they need me to do to help continue to contribute.”

Manager Aaron Boone previously noted how well Stroman took the news.

“Stro has been so good for us and so good in the room,” Boone said, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “He’s all about that team in there and all about the guys in there. Basically, his message to me is, ‘Whatever you need, and I’ll be ready to go.’ I think he just wants to be part of a winner.”

Stroman has gone 10-8 with a 4.07 ERA and 109 strikeouts over his 28 starts (148.1 innings). He became the odd man out after the return of Clarke Schmidt gave the Yankees six healthy starters (Stroman, Schmidt, Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes).

Stroman made his first relief appearance for the Yanks on Tuesday in an 11-2 road win over the Seattle Mariners, pitching three innings of one-run ball while striking out three.

“I’m not coming in (with) slumping shoulders or upset at all by this,” Stroman said. “I’ve been doing this for 10 years as a starter at a very high level. I realize how incredible our starters are.”

Stroman has pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Yanks over his 10-year career, going 87-84 with a 3.69 ERA (1.27 WHIP), 114 ERA+ and 7.4 K/9 rate. He’s certainly fared well as a starter but ultimately was a victim of a numbers game.

Still, Stroman should be a valuable member of the Yankees’ pitching staff as the team rolls to the playoffs. The Yanks have already clinched a playoff berth and entered Saturday with a four-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East with eight games to go. They are searching for their first AL pennant (and World Series victory) since 2009.

Stroman is also searching for his first-ever World Series appearance. He and the Yanks will continue on that journey on Saturday in the second of three road games against the Oakland Athletics.