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4 internal options who can replace Masahiro Tanaka in the Yankees rotation

By Rucker Haringey

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees walks off the mound after the first inning of a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 4-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees walks off the mound after the first inning of a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 4-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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If Masahiro Tanaka misses a month of action the Yankees are going to need to find a new starting pitcher. Here are four internal possibilities.

The Yankees managed to defeat the Mets on Friday night, but the game could prove costly for New York’s American League team. Starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will head to the DL after leaving the game with discomfort in both hamstrings. Now, Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone and the Yankees brain trust will have to find a way to replace him for the foreseeable future.

No one seems to know exactly how much time Tanaka will miss. He’s only going on the 10-day DL, but it’s very likely he’ll miss more time. The rough estimate from the team seems to be that their Japanese pitcher will be held out for a month.

Obviously, that will require the team to identify a replacement for him in the rotation. The Yankees might be able to skip his turn once or twice if the schedule works in their favor, but they can’t stretch a four man rotation out for a full month.

Yankee fans will clamor for a starting pitcher to be acquired via trade, but Cashman can’t force another team to make a good deal. As such, it’s much more likely the replacement will come internally. If it does, there are four legitimate options. The first, is a southpaw that could be a long-term member of the Yankees rotation.

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 08: Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees walks off the mound after the first inning of a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 4-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 08: Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees walks off the mound after the first inning of a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 4-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

4. Justus Sheffield

When news came down that Jordan Montgomery was going down with Tommy John surgery, thoughts immediately started to turn towards Sheffield as a potential replacement. The Yankees resisted that urge, but the injury to Tanaka may force the club to increase their timeline.

He’s certainly one of the most-ready Yankees’ young pitching prospects. He’s already working at the AAA level and his manager there doesn’t believe he’s “far” from hitting the majors. It might be a month too early to call-up Sheffield, but sometimes necessity is the mother of invention. Sheffield is coming to the Bronx soon, but it probably won’t be this week.

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