New York Yankees: Candidates for fifth starter role
By David Hill
Luis Cessa
At some point, Luis Cessa is going to run out of chances with the New York Yankees. However, this does not appear to be that year, at least just yet.
From 2016 through 2018, Cessa rode the train from AAA to the Yankees, appearing in at least ten games each season between the rotation and the bullpen. He failed to make much of an impression in any of those stints, essentially serving as a minor league depth piece. Yet, he continued to get his chances, as the Yankees hoped that his strong minor league performance would start to translate to the majors.
Last season, Cessa finally stuck for a full season in the majors. Serving as a long reliever, he made a career high 43 appearances spanning 81 innings. Over that time, he posted a 4.11 ERA and a 1.309 WHiP, striking out 75 batters with 31 walks.
While those numbers are not exactly impressive, Cessa does have starting experience. He worked almost exclusively as a starter in the minors, making 121 starts. And he does have 19 starts in his time in the majors. However, he has not exactly fared well in those outings, posting a 3-11 record with a 4.93 ERA and a 1.303 WHiP, striking out 68 batters with 26 walks in 91.1 innings.
The New York Yankees appeared to have finally found a role for Luis Cessa as a long reliever. Nonetheless, he will get yet another chance to earn a spot in the rotation.