TAMPA
Lewis Gil’s lackluster performance in his final spring start didn’t secure him a spot in the Yankees’ four-man rotation for the season opener.
Now, it’s uncertain whether he’ll begin the season in the bullpen or head to the minors until the Yankees require a fifth starter in early April.
With four off days in the first two weeks, the Yankees plan to stick with a four-man rotation initially, meaning that starters will have limited time between their outings during this stretch.
Max Fried is set to start Wednesday’s opener against the Giants, followed by Cam Schlitzer, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers after a day off.
This situation left Gil as the odd man out of camp, which was rather disappointing for him. However, he made a solid comeback with a strong outing against the Orioles on Friday night.
“We’re still figuring it out—do we want him to start a few games in the minors? Maybe put him in the rotation?” was what Aaron Boone said after their 4-0 victory over the Phillies at Steinbrenner Field. “Is there another way to handle this? That’s still under consideration.”
Gil is expected back in Tampa on Wednesday for live batting practice to continue strengthening, increasing the likelihood that the Yankees will add another reliever to their Opening Day roster.
There’s a competition among four players for a roster spot: Rule 5 selection Cade Winquest, and lefties Brent Headrick, Jake Byrd, and Osvaldo Bidot. If Gil is in the mix, that drops the competition to three players.
Headrick and Byrd have minor league options, while Bidot does not, meaning the Yankees must either integrate Winquest into the roster or return him to the Cardinals.
While they could utilize Gil from the bullpen to build him up, options like Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn already have that covered.
If Gil participates in live batting practice on Wednesday, it’s likely he will miss the entire opening series against the Giants. Otherwise, a fifth starter won’t be needed until April 11. If Gil heads to the minors, he could be called up as soon as April 9.
“It’s quite frustrating because he clearly wants to start,” said pitching coach Matt Blake. “However, he understands our current situation, especially with how we’ve structured our schedule for the first couple of weeks. We just need to ensure he stays in rhythm while balancing the bullpen and starting rotation.”
“This isn’t purely about Lewis, though.”
