Yankee Pitching in 2008

Joba and Phil, Phil and Joba. Both will be in the rotation next year, probably along with Wang, Pettite, Ian Kennedy and a 6th starter, maybe Moose, because Phil and especially Joba will have to have their innings spotted next year. That's already better than any rotation we've had in years, and it will be good to see Phil back at full strength and Joba back maintaing his velocity through 7 or 8 inning starts. Good stuff. If the Yanks can deal Moose to Philly, or if he retires, we might use Clippard who's already on the 40 or another such pitcher to take some starts off of Joba and Phil's hands. Alan Horne and Daniel McCutchen would also have to be considered if room can be found on the 40 as both are close. Hopefully, Igawa will be moved along with some other extra pitchers like Karstens, DeSalvo and Rasner for useful minor league or bullpen parts.

Speaking of the bullpen, I expect Mo to be back and eventually retire as a Yankee. After that it gets interesting. Farnsworth was mostly good down the stretch, and if I'm Cash, it would take a good offer to get him. Vazquez and Villone are both FA's and hopefully we can get Villone to decline arbitration and get a pick for him. Britton seems like a usable pitcher, especially if the new manager has no bias against him. Bruney now seems like a lost cause. That leaves us with Ohlendorf, who is in AFL learning a split, Veras, and Ramirez, all of whom showed something encouraging down the stretch. If they can establish command they would go a long way to stabilizing the pen. Also, help could come from the system in the form of Sanchez or Cox or Whelan or Melancon at some point next year. There are a few others like Roberston or White (who is also learning a split) who could also make it up. In any event, there's a measure of uncertainty but lots of candidates here. I don't believe in signing FA middle relievers, so perhaps Cash can pull off a starter for relief help trade at some point.

Overall, we're gonna be young, cheap and hungry next year in the pitching department. It should be great to watch.