Since the Yankees signed Chan Ho Park I have received many tweets and emails complaining that the Yankees have too many MLB capable relievers. I never thought I would receive such an email because isn't having an over-abundance of relievers a good thing?
Right now Joe Girardi has said he wants to carry 12 pitchers on the MLB roster out of spring training. Here are the candidates:
Making the Team: A.J. Burnett, Damaso Marte, Chan Ho Park, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, David Robertson, CC Sabathia, Javier Vazquez
Should Make Team: Alfredo Aceves, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes
Right now that's 11 players. One spot left for the following players to compete for:
Jon Albaladejo, Chad Gaudin, Kei Igawa, Boone Logan, Mark Melancon, Sergio Mitre, Dustin Moseley, Royce Ring, Romulo Sanchez (not including all the pitchers with numbers in the upper 80's that really have no chance)
That's nine people competing for one spot. Here's a few options on how to fix that:
1. Do absoluetly nothing. The Yankees could use every reliever they have, along with the great AAA and AA depth they have in the bullpen. No point in risking losing a solid pitcher that could help them out in the future. Pick one of the nine to make the team and send the other eight to AAA and AA.2. Send the loser of the Joba/Hughes competition to AAA to work as a starter until the MLB team needs him. That leaves two spots for the nine players. Narrow the nine down to four or five players and pick two of them to make the MLB team.
3. Trade one of the nine along with another player to the Dodgers for the full rights to Jamie Hoffmann.
4. Get rid of Mitre, use Gaudin in the MLB, only carry one lefty in the pen.
5. Take another lefty (either Logan or Ring)
Those are the options that the Yankees have. Any combination of the options could work for them. My personal move would be to just completely cut ties with Mitre. Try to trade Albaladejo and someone for Hoffmann. Send the loser of the Phil/Joba battle to AAA for a little while and if no one gets hurt figure it out from there. Carry Gaudin and Logan/Ring as the 11th and 12th men.
Overall, however, the abundance of relievers is never a problem. With players such as Grant Duff, Kevin Whelan, etc, developing quickly, the only way it could be a problem is if the abundance of older players that aren't prospects block the young players paths to the MLB. Thoughts on what the Yankees should do?