With Justin Wilson’s departure to the Detroit Tigers, where are the Yankees going to find the missing production that he provided in 2015? He went 5-0, allowing only three homeruns in 61.0 innings of work while boasting a 3.10 ERA.
The Yankees have options which include guys like Jacob Lindgren, Chasen Shreve, and Nick Goody. The most intriguing candidate is hard-throwing lefty, James Pazos. Pazos is a 6’3’’, 24 year old who was called up at the end of the 2015 campaign. Though he pitched five innings in 2015, he only gave up three hits and was placed on the 25-man roster for the Yankees brief stint in the post season.
Pazos was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009, but decided to go to college instead. In 2012, the Yankees drafted him in the 13th round.
Pazos has been impressive in the minor leagues, lowering his ERA in the last three seasons, with 2015’s ERA being 1.27, while only allowing 4 homeruns in four seasons across all minor league levels.
Girardi said this of Pazos last year:
“I think he’s definitely in the mix, A power arm. You know, he finally threw his good slider at the end, right at the end. A young man that didn’t seem to scare. So, I definitely think he’s in the mix.”
The Yankees’ strength is most certainly their bullpen with the likes of Betances, Miller and recently acquired Chapman. Pazos could absolutely take over that lefty need which is crucial to any bullpen.
