The New York Yankees were supposed to open the year with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes, and Clarke Schmidt in their rotation.
Cole, however, will open the year on the injured list with an elbow issue.
The Yankees were forced to bump everyone one spot in the rotation and hold an open competition for the fifth starter job.
Aaron Boone, who was on the Talkin’ Yanks podcast, talked about that competition and said it is down to “four names or so.”
Boone says it’s down to four guys for the 5th starter role pic.twitter.com/vlZ02xS78f
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 19, 2024
The four guys are Luke Weaver, Clayton Beeter, Luis Gil, and Will Warren.
Weaver is a veteran journeyman who has a 6.75 ERA in 5.1 spring innings.
Beeter and Warren are both prospects who haven’t made their MLB debut but ooze talent.
The former has a 3.46 spring ERA and 13 strikeouts in 13 innings, while the latter has a 4.35 ERA in 10.1 frames, with 13 punchouts.
Gil has been a major leaguer since 2021, and possesses incredible arm talent.
Command and control issues have held him back in the past, but after missing the entire 2023 campaign with Tommy John surgery and working on some aspects of his game in the offseason, he is looking much better in the spring.
He has a 2.31 ERA and 18 strikeouts in exhibition play.
Most importantly, he has four walks in 11.2 innings: not perfect, but a sign of progress.
Weaver would have the lowest ceiling, but boasts the most experience.
Gil’s ceiling is very, very high, and Warren and Beeter offer a nice combination of present ability and projectability.
The winner of this competition will likely be revealed in the upcoming days.
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