With David Phelps on his way back from elbow inflammation
and being sent to the Yankees bullpen this could be serving as an audition of
sorts for the 2015 season. You guys know me by now, I’m always thinking about
next season whether we’re in the thick of things or not, and I believe the
Yankees may be as well.
The Yankees current closer David Robertson is set to hit
free agency after this season in his age 30 season and if Phelps can show he is
capable of pitching out of the bullpen it may spell the end of Robertson in
pinstripes. Much like after the 1996 season when the Yankees let 30 year old
John Wetteland walk away via free agency and immediately plugged Mariano Rivera
in as the closer after he burst onto the scene as a failed starter turned
reliever. Dellin Betances would be Mariano in this situation and could slide
into the ninth inning role for New York to replace Robertson.
If Robertson leaves and Betances moves up from the eighth
inning then the Yankees would have to fill the void with either Shawn Kelley or
Adam Warren. Phelps could conceivably earn his way into the 8th
inning but knowing Joe Girardi and his tendencies like I think I do then Phelps
would likely replace Warren in the pen and everyone else would take a step up
leaving a glaring hole in the back end of the pen. Obviously New York could once
again catch lightning in a bottle and throw Jose Ramirez into the bullpen and
actually use him this time and you also have to remember that Jacob Lindgren is
also expected to get a real look at spring training next season and could also
help fill the gaps in.
For Phelps sake and the Yankees sake I hope he either gets
bombed in the bullpen or shines, nothing in between. I don’t want the Yankees
to have any excuse to keep moving the guy back and forth between the rotation
and the pen a la Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. I would like to see Phelps
either become a mainstay in the starting rotation or a mainstay in the bullpen,
not both.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)