Since the New York Yankees acquired Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds, there has been plenty of talk about how good the team’s bullpen potentially could be in 2016 and beyond.
The thought of the “three-headed monster” at the back-end of the bullpen is definitely exciting, but there are still a few questions that surround this bullpen as Spring Training approaches.
One of the major questions will be how the team replaces Adam Warren, a pitcher who served as a “jack of all trades” for the Yankees during his stint with the team.
In his 147 games as a Yankee, Warren posted a 13-15 record with a 3.39 ERA. Whatever role manager Joe Girardi needed him to fill, Warren was capable of doing it. He primarily served as a spot-starter and a long reliever, but also saw innings as a setup man, and had a few opportunities to close games.
This offseason, Warren was traded to the Chicago Cubs in the trade that sent infielder Starlin Castro to the Bronx. The move to acquire Castro should definitely bolster the Yankees’ lineup both offensively and defensively, and it was a move the team surely had to make.
Throughout the 2015 season, the players who saw time at second base for the Yankees combined for a .223 average, which was the third-lowest in all of baseball. With the Yankees looking for a viable second baseman, Warren became expendable, as the Cubs were looking for a young pitcher in return who has some club control for the next few seasons.
With the trade, the Yankees now have another void to fill. Other than Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Chapman, the Yankees’ bullpen is far from set in stone, and it’s a legit possibility that they look to younger players to fill out the remaining bullpen spots.
The team must find someone who can play a similar role to what Warren served over the last few years, and they might just have the perfect guy to fill the void.
That guy is Bryan Mitchell.
When you compare Mitchell and Warren’s path to the big leagues, the both were handled very similarly by the Yankees organization. Both were starting pitchers throughout their minor league careers, but once they jumped to the big leagues, both have been relied on mostly in relief roles.
Mitchell has made 23 appearances over two seasons with the Yankees, mostly in a long relief role. He has yet to pick up his first big league win, as he currently holds a 0-3 record with a 5.31 ERA. The sample size is small, but Mitchell is a player who could make a big impact this season.
Although the team probably still views Mitchell as a potential starting pitcher, the 24-year-old won’t crack the Opening Day roster in the rotation, as the team currently has a logjam at the position. However, there are many different ways that Mitchell could fill Warren’s role and impact the big league team in 2016.
One possible way and probably the most logical way would be for him to start the season in the bullpen as a long reliever. With his versatility, Mitchell could be a guy that Girardi could look to during the season to eat innings to save the rest of the bullpen.
On days where Giardi wants to rest one or more of the “big three,” Mitchell could be asked to fill in as a setup man. The same could said about the starting rotation, as Mitchell could be called upon as as a spot starter. With the Yankees’ rotation having some older veterans and guys who have previous injury issues, the team could elect to use a spot starter to provide extra days of rest at certain points throughout the season.
It’s also very possible that the Yankees will need an extra starting pitcher at some point this season. If an long-term injury occurs (knock on wood), Mitchell could also permanently slide into the starting rotation. With his experience as a starter in the minors, the team could rely on him to pitch on every fifth day, something he’s very capable of doing.
When looking at the potential options on the Yankees roster, Bryan Mitchell definitely is an early favorite to see an extended role for the big league club this season. Although he doesn’t have a ton of major league experience, a role in the bullpen could benefit Mitchell, who could be transitioned back into the rotation in the future.
Warren definitely will be tough to replace, as he served many roles for this team, but Mitchell is definitely a guy who could come in and help fill the void right away. If Mitchell can come in and provide quality innings in whatever role he’s thrown into, it could be a major boost for the Yankees as they look to win another American League East title.
