Chad Green had a lot of success as a relief pitcher for the New York Yankees during the 2017 season. However, the team is not ready to make him a full-time reliever.
According to general manager Brian Cashman, Green will be brought to Spring Training as a starting pitcher. The organization will give the 26-year-old an opportunity to win a spot in the team’s starting rotation.
Cashman said Chad Green will be brought to ST as a starter with “the reliever situation as a fallback. But nothing certain yet. U can’t disregard how exceptional he was in the role he had but at the same time he didn’t find himself in that role because he was a failed starter.”
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) November 14, 2017
Throughout his professional career, Green has predominantly served as a starting pitcher. He got his first taste of being a reliever in 2016, when he made four appearances out of the bullpen for the big league club.
Before the start of the 2017 season, the Yankees had a logjam in the rotation. There was no room for Green, but the organization felt that the hard-throwing right-hander could still make an impact at the big league level.
Green was asked to pitch out of the bullpen, a role in which he would ultimately thrive in. In 40 appearances, he posted a 5-0 record with an astounding 1.83 ERA. In 69 innings pitched, the 26-year-old struck out 103 opposing hitters.
The case for Green being considered as a starting pitcher is quite interesting. Unlike other pitchers who transitioned to the bullpen, Green was never considered a “failed starter.” He has had limited opportunities as a starter in the big leagues, as he’s only made six career Major League starts.
Another factor that plays into this situation is just how well Green pitched in relief this past season. He showcased electric stuff, and was a nightmare for opposing hitters. With a bullpen full of talented arms, Green quickly became one of the team’s most valuable weapons.
For the Yankees, it doesn’t hurt to explore the option of Green possibly turning back into a starter.
-If it works out, Green could be valuable in bolstering the Yankees rotation.
-If Green is better suited for the bullpen, he will return to a role that he was very successful in fulfilling.
However this plays out, Chad Green will be an important part of the Yankees roster for the 2018 season. Only time will tell as to which role Green will fill for the Yankees moving forward.
