TAMPA — Paul Blackburn Could Be a Bargain
Paul Blackburn recently re-signed with the Yankees for one year at $2 million after joining the team in August. In Saturday’s game against the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field, he pitched four scoreless innings, showcasing flashes of his former All-Star self.
At 32, Blackburn has also had a strong performance in spring league play, pitching six shutout innings.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned, “He feels like he’s in a really good place. We were probably hoping to get two or three innings out of him, but he was so efficient that we ended up letting him pitch four innings. It was really great from the jump. His command was excellent; I was really happy. His stuff looked sharp.”
Boone continued, emphasizing Blackburn’s experience: “He’s been an All-Star. This guy has proven to be a solid starting pitcher, and he isn’t past his prime. When he is on the mound, he is in control and commands the ball well. There’s a reason we brought him in.”
Though Blackburn showed potential last season, there are lingering doubts about the reunion. Last year, he struggled with a 6.85 ERA in seven games (four starts) before getting released by the Mets. His debut with the Yankees was also rocky, giving up seven runs in a game. But he rebounded in the bullpen, posting a 1.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts over the next 12 innings across seven appearances. Blackburn attributes this improvement to adopting a lower arm slot.
“I felt like I was fighting with myself the whole time,” Blackburn expressed on Saturday. “I just didn’t feel right. Back in August, I said, ‘Not anymore,’ and returned to being my old self. I wanted to improve and really focus on my pitch. When I arrived here, I spoke with the pitching staff, and they wanted me to be myself. I got back to the arm slot that I’ve always been comfortable with, which helped me get back on track.”
He added, “I’m not going to overpower hitters, but I plan to mix my speeds effectively.”
Boone might use Blackburn in several roles this season, perhaps starting until the rotation is fully set. However, his greatest value likely lies in the bullpen, a position he filled in all his appearances with the Yankees last year. Throughout his first eight seasons, Blackburn had only four relief appearances out of 86 games.
“I definitely feel comfortable here after spending last year with the team,” Blackburn said. “There were guys like Luke Weaver who successfully made transitions, and he helped a lot of people by being smart about his approach. The more I did it, the more at ease I became.”
