Yankees Plan to Put Phelps in Bullpen When He Returns

When David Phelps was in the Yankees' rotation this season, it goes without saying that he was one of the team's more reliable guys.

After coming into the always-changing group in late April, Phelps put together a solid 4.28 ERA and threw gems against the A's, Blue Jays, and Twins, although that somewhat-high ERA would probably have been a lot better had his four-game skid in May and June never happened.

Nonetheless, when the currently-injured right-hander comes back from his shoulder wound in the next week he'll be in New York's worn out bullpen instead, a fact team Manager Joe Girardi revealed to The Star Ledger's Brendan Kuty prior to today's win.

"It obviously won't happen over night," Girardi said. "But we'll try to get him ready for the bullpen."

In the Yanks' usually-reliable clan of relievers, interestingly, Phelps will take the duties of the ineffective Chase Whitley, who was sent down to Triple-A earlier this afternoon after being on the roster for four months. 

No, that plan doesn't necessarily sound exciting, but according to the aforementioned Kuty it will fortunetaly only be temporary, as Phelps will simply be using the role as a way to rebuild his arm strength.