Yankees Rumors: Competition for 5th Starter Rigged

The New York Yankees have the enviable ‘problem’ of rotation depth this spring.  For a team that entered the offseason with several question marks surrounding their starting five, New York’s rotation is now considered a strength.  With the starting four in the Yankees pitching arsenal decided, the only question remaining is who will claim the final spot.  While Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia will battle for the role of fifth starter this spring, Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the competition is rigged.

The Yankees are saying that the battle for the final spot in their rotation is pitting Hughes vs. Garcia.  This figures to offer fans plenty to watch this spring, as the young pitcher yet to reach his projected potential competes against the journeyman veteran looking for one more shot.

As legitimate as this all may sound, Sherman is crying foul.  While the Yankees may want you to believe this is a real competition between Hughes and Garcia, Sherman feels it’s rigged in favor of the young right-hander.

Earlier this offseason, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he still felt like Phil Hughes was a top-of-the-rotation starter.  Sherman reminds us that these words haven’t been linked to Garcia’s name since perhaps the 2001 season.

On top of this, Garcia is only signed for one season, while Hughes won’t hit the free agent market until after the 2013 campaign.

The only way Sherman sees Garcia winning a spot in the Yankees Opening Day rotation is if there is an injury or Hughes proves completely incompetent.

Do you think the Yankees should hold a true open competition for the final spot in their rotation?  Or do you think New York is right to rig the battle in favor of Hughes?

For more on the Yankees, be sure to check out Yanks Go Yard.

You can follow Call to the Pen on Twitter at @FSCalltothePen or like us here on Facebook.