TAMPA — Early spring training proclamations often have the shelf life of a cup of ice cream on a July afternoon in The Bronx.

It was through that lens that Aaron Boone offered caveats with many of the things he said Wednesday when talking about his hopes for the 2024 Yankees.

But understanding that talk is cheap this time of year, especially coming off a disastrous 82-80 season, the manager was more adamant about one message in particular.

“We’re hellbent on being a champion,” Boone said at George M. Steinbrenner Field, where Yankees pitchers and catchers officially reported to camp. “We understand very well that last year was not anything anyone in this organization wants or demands or expects. I would say we have poured into that, from ownership to the front office to the coaches and staff, all the way to the players, that I do feel like we have prepared properly. We are ready to roll.

“But again, we got to show you. I’m going to talk to [reporters] every single day. Anything I say now, next week, next month, into the season — we gotta go prove it. I think we have a chance to be a really special team. That’s all it is right now. We gotta go show the world that we’re as good as we think we can be.”

Of course, the Yankees had high hopes around this time last year, too, only for their never-ending list of injuries to begin in spring training before a season in which their offense was one of the worst in the majors.

This time around, they have reinforcements in the way of Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, Trent Grisham and Marcus Stroman; plenty of internal candidates for bounce-back seasons; and an increased sense of urgency for an organization that was embarrassed by last season and is now going on 15 years since it last won (or even appeared in) a World Series.

“Look, I think anytime you’re a championship-level team — and hopefully in the end we’re holding that trophy, that’s what we’re here to try and accomplish — I think a lot of things have to go right,” Boone said. “Start with health. In any season, you’re going to have your health challenges here and there, but hopefully for the most part, especially a lot of your core guys, can go to the post regularly. That’s an important factor.

“Obviously, going through what we went through last year as a club, nobody wants that ever again. And it really left, obviously, a sour taste. It’s like sand getting kicked in your face. And I do feel we have a group that is always really focused and diligent on preparing and getting ready to go out and have a great season. But I do think there’s another level of edge and focus to not wanting to have that happen again.”

The reality is that the Yankees have the reigning AL Cy Young winner (Gerrit Cole) and two of the top five hitters in the game (Soto and Aaron Judge).

Beyond that, they have the potential for a strong supporting cast, but there are a fair amount of “ifs” to that equation — particularly surrounding the health of their rotation (especially with a lot of unproven depth behind it) and some of their key veteran bats.

There is not a whole lot that Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo or DJ LeMahieu can do this spring to fully answer the questions that will follow them into the season.

For now, Boone and general manager Brian Cashman have recently talked up all of them, lauding the work they have done over the offseason — many of them part of the large crowd of players who have been working out in Tampa for over a month already — to put themselves in a better position entering the spring.

But they also realize it will take more than just words, offseason work and determination for the Yankees to right the ship in a make-or-break 2024.

“The proof is going to be in the pudding,” said Boone, who is entering the final year of his contract. “I can sit here and say coming off of what we’ve come off last year and talk about things — we have to go out and show you.

“We have to go out and prove it. I’m excited for that challenge.”