New York Yankees’ Odd Man Out Upon Gerrit Cole’s Return

Aaron Boone's Tough Choice

Choosing the first option might seem like taking the path of least resistance, but it also aligns logically given the team's history of injuries and the general prevalence of pitcher injuries across the league. Additionally, the bullpen is already performing at a high level, indicating there's no urgent need for reinforcements. For Boone, Option B presents both an opportunity and a dilemma; any pitcher he considers relocating to the bullpen could reasonably argue they deserve to stay in the rotation. This decision is bound to be among the most challenging Boone has faced in his managerial tenure. Making the right choice could significantly boost the team's chances for a postseason run, while the wrong decision could disrupt a currently thriving rotation.

This post by Ryan Trieste appeared first on Just Baseball.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.

Download the SportsGrid App

Stay Ahead of the Game and Elevate Your Sports Betting Experience with SportsGrid. Download the SportsGrid App from the Apple Store and Google Play Store.

Option A

Given the Yankees' rotation includes players who are either prone to injuries or recovering from them, adopting a six-man rotation could be wise. This approach has merit early in the season, considering baseball's lengthy calendar where fatigue and injuries are almost a given. An additional rest day could enable the pitching staff to maintain their dominance further into the season. Moreover, caution with Gerrit Cole upon his return is crucial. His type of injury could persist throughout 2024, and it's vital to avoid overburdening him initially. Integrating a six-man rotation would not only preserve the current lineup but also reintroduce one of the sport's premier pitchers without disruption. This strategy also affords Aaron Boone greater flexibility, ensuring all six starters are primed for extended outings. Should an injury occur, the team can seamlessly revert to a traditional five-man rotation without compromising performance.

Option B

This scenario is undoubtedly the least favorable, particularly for Boone. However, to preserve the established five-man rotation rhythm, a shift for one player to the bullpen is necessary. Given that all five starters have kicked off the season impressively, choosing who to move becomes a difficult decision. Should any of them start to falter significantly as Cole's return approaches, that individual would naturally become the prime candidate for reassignment to the bullpen.

The question is, which of these pitchers would warrant a move to the bullpen after how they've performed?

Bullpen Options?

Nestor Cortes has indeed shown significant improvement this season, bouncing back from a challenging 2023. However, it remains uncertain if he'll ever recapture the peak performance levels of 2021 and 2022. One possibility worth considering is transitioning Cortes into a relief role. There's no question he could contribute valuable innings from the bullpen and add a unique dynamic with his distinctive pitching style. While fans might be hesitant to see Cortes moved from the starting lineup, such a change could prove beneficial under Boone's strategy. Then there's Clarke Schmidt, who has emerged as possibly the second most effective pitcher on the team this year. It appears he's truly finding his stride as a starter in the majors.

However, it's likely that Boone will consider transitioning Schmidt to a bullpen role, as he is the only member of the current group with a proven history of success in relief pitching. With a career ERA of 3.18 across 51.0 innings pitched from the bullpen—much of it achieved during an impressive 2022 season—shifting Schmidt back to a reliever role would be a tough decision given his performance as a starter this year. Nonetheless, it wouldn't be surprising if he ends up being the one to make way, at least temporarily.

Aaron Boone's Tough Choice

Choosing the first option might seem like taking the path of least resistance, but it also aligns logically given the team's history of injuries and the general prevalence of pitcher injuries across the league. Additionally, the bullpen is already performing at a high level, indicating there's no urgent need for reinforcements. For Boone, Option B presents both an opportunity and a dilemma; any pitcher he considers relocating to the bullpen could reasonably argue they deserve to stay in the rotation. This decision is bound to be among the most challenging Boone has faced in his managerial tenure. Making the right choice could significantly boost the team's chances for a postseason run, while the wrong decision could disrupt a currently thriving rotation.

This post by Ryan Trieste appeared first on Just Baseball.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.