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],

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

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.