Starting pitching was a major strength for the New York Yankees in the spring. Then, three of their starters went down with injuries. Gerrit Cole is out for the season, and Luis Gil is out until at least July. Clarke Schmidt, diagnosed with right rotator cuff tendonitis, is on the 15-day IL retroactive to March 24. Beginning the rehab process last Saturday with Double-A Somerset, the organization has said they expect Schmidt to return to the team around April 15-16. While this is good news for the team, it also requires them to decide which pitcher will lose their spot in the rotation once Schmidt returns.
Rookie vs. Veteran
With Carlos Rodon, Max Fried, and Marcus Stroman taking up the first three starting spots, it will ultimately be rookie right-hander Will Warren or veteran Carlos Carrasco removed from the rotation. Both pitchers earned their spots in the rotation during Spring Training when the team experienced an influx of pitching injuries. So far in this young season, neither pitcher has distinguished themselves as the clear-cut mainstay of the rotation, meaning the Yankees will have to pay close attention to both’s performances during the next week or two.
In two starts, the 25-year-old Warren has surrendered 6 runs over 9 innings, striking out 9 and walking 5. He has looked impressive at times, particularly in his first start against the Arizona Diamondbacks and in the first two innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. This isn’t his first stint in the big leagues, as he started 5 games for the Yankees last season with little success. Carrasco, who started in 1 of his 2 appearances, had a rocky debut against the Milwaukee Brewers, giving up 3 runs in 2 innings. However, he did earn a win against Arizona last Thursday, striking out 5 and giving up 3 runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Pros and Cons
Though it might look appealing to let Warren continue to develop and adjust to the majors, the Yankees may be more inclined to keep Carrasco for a few reasons. The veteran has no minor league options, unlike Warren, who can be optioned to the minors with no penalty. Secondly, the team may wish to keep Carrasco on the roster simply because of his immense experience and because he can mentor younger pitchers.
On the other hand, Warren is one of New York’s best pitching prospects, and with no other star-studded prospects waiting in the wings, the Yankees may put all of their eggs in his basket. Turning 26 this season, Warren’s development may be put in jeopardy if he continues to be sent back down to the minors without a chance to truly become accustomed to pitching in the majors.
The Consensus
When asked if he’d considered this dilemma over the weekend, manager Aaron Boone simply stated “Nope.” Notorious for having this mindset concerning roster decisions, Boone and the Yankees may be banking on one of the two pitchers to emerge as the clear winner of the fifth spot in the rotation. With at least another week before Schmidt returns to the Bronx, Warren will have to prove that he belongs in the bigs, and Carrasco will have to show that he still has what it takes to pitch at a big-league level.
Main Photo Credits: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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