With the news of the Yankees acquiring dominant all-star closer Aroldis Chapman from the Reds, GM Brian Cashman has told reporters the “rotation is full” when asked about the possibility of adding another starting pitcher.
Cashman: “Our rotation is full.” Sounds like there might not be a starting pitching move on the horizon.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) December 28, 2015
As it stands, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, and Nathan Eovaldi are locked into the starting rotation with CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, and Bryan Mitchell in play for the fifth spot. Presumably, Sabathia would get the nod as the fifth starter due to his contract.
Coming into the offseason, the Yankees wanted to add another starting pitcher to take pressure off their pen. Now with the trade of Chapman, it allows the team to keep the starters they currently have due to the firepower at the back end of the bullpen.
While going deep into games was an issue for the Yankee starting rotation a year ago, the new depth created by adding Chapman will give the team more options late in games and will keep Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller fresh. Once the seventh or eighth inning hits, the Yanks could call upon a combination of the three to finish out games, giving the starters more leeway than previous seasons.
Even with the addition of Chapman, the team may not have to use the bullpen nearly as often as last season if the rotation is healthy for the 2016 campaign. If the rotation is at full strength and can consistently go six innings per game, the bullpen will have less milage at the end of the year, making them more effective throughout the season. With the depth of the rotation, the front office does not feel the need to make a deal for a starter and give up top prospects.
