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.

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.