Fansided

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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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Luis Cessa #85 of the New York Yankees in action against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 17, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Marlins defeated the Yankees 9-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Luis Cessa #85 of the New York Yankees in action against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 17, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Marlins defeated the Yankees 9-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

3. Luis Cessa

The Mexican right hander didn’t break spring training with the big league club, but it didn’t take him long to earn a call-up. Unfortunately, he suffered a strained oblique that put him on the DL almost immediately.

He doesn’t excite any Yankee fans who’ve watched him pitch, but he could develop into a reasonable fifth starter. His career ERA of 4.49 in over 100 major league innings accurately reflects his ability level.

In other words, Cessa isn’t likely to be anything other than a stopgap for a team with World Series aspirations. He might get a few starts in place of Tanaka, but it’s very unlikely he’ll manage to stay in the rotation for the entire season.

One things Cessa does have working for him is timing. He’s been steadily upping his workload in Extended Spring Training. The next step for the 25-year-old right hander could be a real start for the Yankees this week. If he does, he’ll be under instant pressure to prove he’s worthy of a big league roster spot.

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 23: David Hale #61 of the New York Yankees in action against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on April 23, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Twins 14-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 23: David Hale #61 of the New York Yankees in action against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on April 23, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Twins 14-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

2. David Hale

It’s never a good sign when a team releases a player, then signs him to a minor league deal, and ends up calling him back up to the major league roster. But it’s very possible the Yankees will do just that with Hale if they call him up this week.

Hale is pretty similar to Cessa in that he’s a fringe regular. The Yankees released him earlier this season for a reason. He lacks the dynamic stuff necessary to get good major league hitters out on a consistent basis.

What Hale might be able to do in a short-term scenario is eat some innings at a replacement level. That isn’t a high bar, but it might still be difficult for Hale. The 30-year-old is running out of chances to establish himself as a quality major league pitcher.

The only advantage Hale has over some of his competitors is his maturity as a pitcher. At 30 years of age he’s been around the block. He knows what it’s like to pitch in the big leagues. That advantage might be just enough to get him back in the Bronx by week’s end.

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