Who’s the fifth starter?
By Greg Corcoran
The Yankees have upgraded their lineup in a big way this offseason with the addition of Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo. Even Trent Grisham represents an upgrade in some ways given that he is a lefty bat who can put the ball in the seats from time to time. In order to get Soto, however, the Yankees had to give up four pitchers who could have been part of the starting rotation next season.
Without Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Drew Thrope the Yankees are left with depleted depth in the starting rotation. It is a forgone conclusion that the Yankees will look outside of the organization for rotation help, but what is left of their in-house options if these guys fall through, or worse yet there’s an injury?
As it stands, the Yankees have Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, and Nestor Cortes on the roster. Behind Cole, there are questions of durability and/or performance, and most importantly still one open slot.
The Yankees have several players in the high minors who could fill this role in a pinch. The first is Will Warren, who is probably the best candidate. Warren pitched in Triple-A last year and caught fire towards the end of the year. He has a deep repertoire of pitches, and generates movement that allows him to miss bats. His sinker has an incredible 24-30 inches of vertical movement and 12-18 inches of horizontal movement. His slider is one of the best in the system.
In 2023, Warren had a 3.35 ERA and 149 K : 59 BB in 129 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He struggled more with walks than he has in the past, which is likely his biggest point of emphasis going forward. Will is an excellent candidate for the fifth starter spot, and even if the Yankees sign someone will likely be one of the first call-ups to log some innings.
Luis Gil is finally returning from injury after missing almost two full years. He came back late in 2023 and his stuff was back across the board. He even showed a new cutter and an improved changeup. This could bode well for him in 2024. We all saw what he can do in a small sample when he debuted with the Yankees in 2021. There may be more where that came from, and his presence on the 40-man roster gives him a leg up on the competition for a rotation spot.
Gil sits in the upper 90’s and hitters have trouble squaring him up. The key to his success will be health and durability. He’ll need to prove again that he can get through the lineup three times to remain a starter long term. In the meantime, he’s an option for the fifth or sixth starter role going into 2024.
Clayton Beeter came into his own shortly after being traded to the Yankees from the Dodgers. Since then he has increased his workload and pitched later into games. He threw 131.2 innings last year and had a 3.62 ERA splitting his time between Double-A and Triple-A. He struggled with consistency for Scranton Wilkes-Barre but showed flashes of brilliance. Clayton finished the year with 165 K : 75 BB. More than anyone else on this list, he has struggled with control.
With a fastball that tops out at 97 mph and a slider, curveball, and changeup at his disposal Beeter has a good enough pitch mix to start in the major leagues. More power than finesse, Beeter may have trouble getting through a major league lineup several times. It may take more seasoning in Triple-A to get there, which is why Warren and Gil are better bets to fill the last rotation slot. If he puts in the offseason work Beeter could be ready by 2024 to break into the rotation.
Yoendrys Gomez is another player who could slot into the fifth spot in the rotation. Given the fact that he has never topped 61 innings in the minor leagues, it is unlikely the Yankees could rely on him for a full workload in 2024. He could factor in later in the season, or as a 3-4 inning starter who gives way to the bullpen early on. Gomez made his major league debut last year and looked like he belonged. He has a starter’s repertoire and good enough command to get major league hitters out.
There are many questions about his durability and whether he can have sustained success in a starting role with the Yankees. Of the four pitchers being discussed, he’s the least likely to begin the year as the fifth starter, but he’s a great guy to have stashed away in Triple-A in case a need arises during the season.
On paper, the Yankees rotation is in a tough spot. They will have to sign or trade for at least one more starting pitcher this offseason, or things could get painful quickly. Even so, these four starters are decent depth. Moreover, there is little doubt that the Yankees will sign some Triple-A depth starters once the high-priced items are off the market. There is so much uncertainty today, but things will become clearer by the time Spring Training rolls around.