MLB General Manager meetings have begun and already Brian Cashman is making bold statements that will ultimately hurt the New York Yankees and Chad Green.
New year, new attitude. That’s what the New York Yankees are thinking as the GM meetings are occurring and the winter meetings are right around the corner.
Today, we received our first taste of what the Yankees’ plans are for the upcoming season through quotes from Brian Cashman. As reported by Newsday Sports’ Erik Boland on Twitter, the Yankees are potentially ready for a change with reliever Chad Green.
But wait…what? Cashman can’t just make a statement like this and not be expected to be hounded with follow-up questions. The biggest question is…why?
The Yankees have a core set of four starters for the beginning of the season and we’re waiting on hearing what happens with CC Sabathia. Adding Chad Green into the mix is an interesting choice.
I’m not sure what is going to be happening with Green come the regular season but I have a feeling the Yankees are going to regret testing him as a starter again.
A lot of people compare the situation to that of Luis Severino, who struggled as a starter in 2016 and spent some time in the bullpen which he despised, according to an interview with the New York Post earlier this year. But if you look closely enough, it’s not the same.
In fact, you couldn’t have two different pitchers.
While Cashman mentions the impact that Green has in the ‘pen, he is undermining that. Chad Green was a force in the bullpen that consistently performed. Plus, he spent the entire season in the ‘pen, unlike Severino, who had one month out there and only appeared in 10 games.
The Yankees definitely need to give more credit to Green and his impact in the bullpen. In fact, he practically WAS the bullpen for a long time this season. As the big names were failing to record outs, Chad Green was the savior, swooping in with his 1.83 ERA and 30 appearances where he did not allow a run.
He was Joe Girardi’s first choice to come out, having the ability to pitch a few innings if a starter was unable to provide a solid outing and for good reason. Green posted the lowest ERA of any Yankees reliever with a minimum of 35 appearances this year.
Green has gotten into the bullpen mindset since he lost the starting rotation position in spring training. Since he’s gone to the bullpen, he’s found his own. Looking at him, he likely should have been in the ‘pen from the start with his pitching repertoire.
Primarily relying on his four-seam fastball and slider, he has the ability to throw a cutter (which he’s been working on) and a sinker and splitter. However, when he was starting, it became quite obvious that he was unable to sustain the fastball velocity past a couple of innings of work.
Severino, on the other hand, could maintain his mid to high-90s fastball far into the fifth or sixth inning. If Green goes back to being a starter, the Yankees would be stretching him out, something that he hasn’t done in well over a year. How long could he last?
If the Yankees decide to go with him as a starter, they’ll be making a huge mistake. Switching him back from starter to bullpen back to starter in three seasons is asking him to change his whole mindset and will take away a strong middle reliever, which the Yankees have shown they don’t have a plethora of options in that role.
I’m all for trying new things out, like they did with Luis Severino last season. I mean, look how that turned out? But Chad Green is a far different pitcher and personality than Severino.
The Yankees shouldn’t be content with losing their top middle reliever in the ‘pen to attempt to fill a rotation spot when the minor league teams are stocked with pitchers ready to make their mark.
Try these new guys, don’t try and teach an old dog new tricks (even though he’s only 26). Let Green do his thing in the bullpen and the Yankees will be set. Try and move Green to a different role and you’ll be sorry.