Revisiting the New York Yankees closer situation
About three weeks back, Lou Musto examined who the New York Yankees closer should be in 2015. That was before spring training got under way. Now after three weeks of action, the picture is gradually starting to come into focus.
For simplicity sake, let’s make Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances the frontrunners. Obviously, Mariano Rivera and David Robertson are no longer options, but for a dark horse candidate, Esmil Rogers can be considered. To make things more interesting, let’s put Adam Warren in that category too. Maybe Chase Whitley?
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Okay, now back to reality. Rogers has zero career saves and has logged only 28.1 IP in his career in the ninth where he has a 3.81 ERA. Warren looks like he is on track to be the No. 5 starter, because he should beat out Chris Capuano for that spot. He’s 2-0 across 13 spring innings with a 2.77 ERA and is yet to give up a free pass. Whitley is impressive so far this spring as well, but he had a 6.88 ERA as a reliever last year.
That nonsense aside, the real dark horse to be named Yankees closer is Andrew Bailey. Shoulder surgery in June of 2013 marks the last time he pitched in MLB. Bailey logged 75 saves for the Oakland Athletics from 2009-11. He had a very respectable ERA of 2.07 in 174 IP over that stretch. If it were between Bailey, Betances and Miller and manger Joe Girardi based his decision off past experience, Bailey would have to be the one getting the nod in the ninth frame. He has pitched two clean innings this spring, allowing only one un-earned run while striking out two and walking none.
However, Girardi’s decision lays in limbo. I think his heart probably wants Betances to close after his dominant 2014. The “Beast of Brooklyn” is also a native New Yorker and he is a product of the Yankees’ system, drafted in the eighth round of the 2006 draft. However, Betances is not having his way with spring ball batters thus far with a 4.50 ERA over four innings pitched — not to mention a BAA of .313.
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From a conscience and rational perspective, Girardi knows Miller should close. The former Oriole is making far more money than any reliever in the Yankee’s bullpen at $9 million in 2015. That is upper tier closer money. Only seven “relief” pitcher’s are set to make more or equal to Miller’s salary in 2015. Relief is a term to be used lightly, as some high paid relievers were once starters who signed contracts as such but did not entirely pan out.
Miller has pitched strictly in a relief capacity since 2012. He has a 2.57 ERA with a single save over 133.1 IP through that timeframe. His K/9 of 13.6 over the last three seasons also bodes well for his chance of closing out games this year with the Yankees. To cap it all of, Miller’s spring ERA of 1.80 through five innings pitched with a WHIP of 0.80 looks even better in a projected closer role.
Girardi will have to make a decision soon on behalf of the New York Yankees. For an organization that has been void of such a decision for nearly the last two decades, 2014 and 2015 has seen considerable turnover at the closer position. Smart money says Miller gets his shot and if he falters after a period, then Girardi must once more ponder things.