Since the Yankees play only nine games during the season’s first 13 days, manager Aaron Boone announced today (to the Athletic’s Chris Kirschner and other reporters) that the team will use a four-man rotation of Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers during this rather staggered portion of the schedule. This leaves Luis Gil in a bit of an awkward spot as an unnecessary fifth starter, though pitching coach Matt Blake suggested that Gil could be used in a piggyback capacity during Weathers’ first outing. It is also possible Gil could be left off New York’s Opening Day roster altogether — he could bide his time in the minors until he’s needed, and the Yankees could use his roster spot on an extra reliever.
After winning AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, Gil was limited to 11 starts and 57 innings last season due to a right lat strain. Gil’s peripherals were unimpressive, and his whopping 5.74 SIERA indicates that the right-hander was quite fortunate to manage a 3.32 ERA. The fact that Gil has been relegated to this uncertain role for the start of the season perhaps indicates that the Yankees still have some questions about the righty, though Blake was encouraged by some adjustments Gil made to his release point.
More from around the AL East…
- The Blue Jays‘ bullpen continues to take final form, as manager John Schneider told reporters (including Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae and Shi Davidi) that Tommy Nance will make the team, while Yariel Rodriguez, non-roster invite Jorge Alcala, and Rule 5 Draft pick Angel Bastardo won’t be part of the Opening Day roster. In Bastardo’s case, this means the Jays must offer the right-hander back to the Red Sox, work out a trade with Boston to officially obtain Bastardo’s rights, or perhaps trade Bastardo to another team interested on carrying him on their active roster all season. Bastardo was actually selected in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, but a Tommy John surgery cost him the entire 2025 season and thus Toronto retained his R5 status for the coming season.
- Gavin Lux‘s shoulder remains a bit of a question mark for the Rays as Opening Day looms, though the second baseman was able to return to the lineup for today’s game with the Blue Jays. Lux’s first camp with the Rays was initially slowed by some oblique discomfort, and then a sore throwing shoulder that has limited him to seven Grapefruit League games to date. Manager Kevin Cash told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times and other reporters that due to the “time crunch” created by Thursday’s opener, “we’ve got to get [Lux] going for him to be ready to go.” If Lux needs a 10-day injured list stint to give himself more time to get right, Topkin suggests the Rays could add Richie Palacios to the roster, or perhaps explore the market for a new depth infielder.
This^^^^^
Hazel Mae has come a long way, I wouldn’t mind having her back with the Sox.
Always makes me nostalgic when I see her on Sportsnet broadcasts. She’s a great line reporter.
She Canadian so its likely she is happy where she is. We love her in Canada.
Married to Kevin Barker who you can have back in the USA. He’s a block head.
I love Kevin Barker, but I’m a Mariners fan. I think he has great enthusiasm and when he gets worked up and his rural Virginia twang starts a twanging I’m rolling on the floor. Dude is kind of a throwback. Him and Blair not getting along as of late. Seem to be at each other’s throats. Didn’t know Hazel was his wife. Cool stuff.
Duce – I know her coming back is not a possibility, I was just saying I’d welcome her.
There’s a legion of Toronto fans that would lay their lives on the line to prevent that from happening.
Long – John Henry wouldn’t go for it anyway. He basically banned having the female sideline reporter.
FPG
Wow …Hazel Mae .. I always liked her. Speaking of announcers/reporters,ect. I’ve always included the great Don Orsillo as a top 5 bad move by Sox ‘mis’management. Baseball is entertainment and the Sox really lost out on one of the best of all-time when they decided to not bring him back. Disgraceful.. My annual tirade about Orsillo.
Cdc – hi!
Yeah they didn’t want to pay Don. He was better than Remy, may he RIP.
FPG
Was it a payroll decision or that he was critical of the way management was performing?…. Remy and Orsillo was the best tandem of all-time as far as I’m concerned. It certainly did not take Orsillo long to find another job. Orsillo also works for TBs or MLB and does an excellent job for the Padres. I certainlyis him doing Sox broadcasts. Smooth easy and entertaining
Cdc – hi!
Strictly a payroll decision is how I remembered it. I can’t imagine Don ever criticizing management, he’s not me. 😆
Eck is still my favorite color analyst.
FPG
Haha….
I really enjoyed Eck. He is one of a kind . He broadcasted like he pitched, with flair and style that was all his own. A legend on the field and in the booth. Unfortunately family problems probably led him into an early retirement from public life.
cdc – hi!
Yes agreed on the family problems, although covering games for a last place team probably took the fun out of it for him too.
Hey I saw a post of yours that you addressed to me while I was away, and now I can’t find it to reply back. Can you re-post it or tell me where it is?
FPG
It was probably about the batting order the rotation order. Maybe about whether to have Duran bat 1st and Anthony bat 3rd. I only address a couple of people on here. I know the offense kind of took off when Cora inserted Anthony in the leadoff spot. Recently managers have put their best hitters 1st or 2nd in the lineup , what do you think??.
FPG
Cincy has a got team . There starting rotation is very good. The lineup is a little light. If things break right for Tito they should contend for the playoffs again and who knows. I always root for Francona, unless they are playing the Sox.
FPG
I was posting about all of the expectations for Roman Anthony. Everyone including myself have him as one of the best players in MLB already. It seems as if anything less than all-star level production would be a disappointment. That’s a ton to put on a 21 year olds plate. All-star,top 5 MVP,,ect ect. Would not be the 1st talented young guy to struggle. Hopefully not. I am excited for Wyler Abreu, must give Bloom credit for this acquisition..,.
cdc – hi!
I’ll keep looking for it, maybe it was what kind of contract Early should get? I definitely already replied to the batting order question.
Yeah it’s funny, I was just looking at a 2004 OD lineup with Manny 3rd and Ortiz 4th and I wondered if they would be batting 1st-2nd today.
Roman struggled after he was called up in June, hitting only .210 that month. He had just a .758 OPS thru July 25th before turning it on. So yeah the offense was better when he was moved to leadoff, but that’s because he made the necessary adjustments and was a much better overall hitter by that point.
I think lineup positioning should be based on the entire lineup. For instance, the Dodgers lineup is so loaded that having Ohtani bat leadoff really isn’t a big deal. But if you’ve got only one or two really good sluggers, I would put them 3rd-4th.
cdc – hi!
Didn’t take long for Cora to create controversy by starting IKF over Monasterio, who is a much better hitter against LHP than IKF. What do you think?
Yeah you described Cincy perfectly, but they’ve got Geno. If he homers today I’ll be very unhappy.
cdc – hi!
I have zero concerns about Roman handling pressure. He has excellent mental makeup, he won’t choke under pressure.
Abreu will have a great first month, he always does.
FPG
I want Mayer in there everyday. It did work out nicely. How about the ABS for Roman.. created everything.. Is Chapman getting bigger ?!?! Dude is huge . Very much liked Whitlock getting some revenge on Suarez .. Nice to start season with a fantastic outing from the pitching group.
FPG
Very interesting thought about Manny and Ortiz batting 1-2 in the order. I don’t think it’s out of the question. Damon 3rd ? Nixon always had a high obp… Mueller ,Millar. Interesting to think how baseball has evolved.
cdc – hi!
My question for you, how long would you play Mayer everyday if he doesn’t improve vs LHP? Would you give him 2 months? Until the ASG? Until September?
I guess the same question could be asked of Abreu & Duran.
To be perfectly candid, I was half-listening and not watching when Chapman came in because I knew it was Game Over at that point. So I have no idea what he looked like. LOL
Roman has an AMAZING eye for the strike zone. He is Boggs but with power. It would have been so cool if Ted was still alive and could meet with Roman, so many similarities including same reserved demeanor.
Yeah when Geno faced Crochet I said don’t stop striking out now. LOL
FPG
Well you have to give him at least a hundred at bats. You have to let him show that he can do it or not… It’s not like you have great options . Let him prove himself as an everyday MLB player.
cdc – hi!
Until Mayer shows he can hit LHP, Monasterio is the better option vs LHP. But like I said, Mayer deserves some time to face LHP.
Wrong profile link for Yariel
Rodriguez is going to get 7M to pitch in the minors this year 🥴🥴🤢🤢
Angel Bastardo is about as fun a name as Angel Pagan. Such a yin-yang thing.
“we’ve got to get [Lux] going for him to be ready to go.” Very articulate there, Cash.
Seems like there is always something ailing with Lux.
bring Yariel to Miami please
@ByeBye Wagaman
If you take on the rest of his contract we’ll accept any mid 30’s AA player you have.
yall can take my former classmate Evan McKendry off our hands 🤣 my Cuban bias just wants Rodriguez
Questions: If a Rule 5 player is returned to the original team, must he stay on the original team’s 26 man roster all year? Or is (or is he not) returned to the 40 man roster? If the latter, does he remain available for another team to claim via Rule 5?
1) No, he can be assigned anywhere in the original org.
2) No, he doesn’t have to be added to the 40-man
3) No, the rule 5 status ends when he is either returned to his original team, or satisfies the conditions of a rule 5 pick with the selecting team (or another team he may get traded to). Cannot get re-rule 5’d in the same year.
To add to Long’s post for clarity though, next year if he’s still not on a 40-man he could get taken in that subsequent rule 5 draft.
The rule 5 isnt like a QO, there not one selection per career.
Thanks for the answers!
I thought not trading Gil for Kyle Tucker was such a mistake at the time but an even bigger one now.
@Drew
Why would it be any mistake when we now know there would eventually be a bidding war between the Yanks, Mets, Jays and, to an extent, the Dodgers? If the Yanks had traded for Tucker it would’ve been for Gil plus a lot more so it wasn’t a 1 for 1. The logic of not trading Gil plus others for a rental was smart then and even smarter now. That’s nothing that day that Gil can’t return back to form.
Will Warren had a nice spring, Schlittler too.
Its going to be a long stretch without Cole and Rodon but if they can Weathers the storm, the Yanks are likely to be in good position when they return to the rotation this summer.
@Drew lots of mistakes by Cashman over the years. Not trading for Cole originally for Andujar and Frazier. Trading for Gallo, Trading for Montas, Trading for Gray. IMO he doesn’t know how to build a winning team. 2009 was won because George outspent for CC, Tex, and AJ.
Dude has literally never fielded a losing team. Not even a .500 team.
Let’s see what Cashman can do in a small market.