New York Post

JUDGE AIMS TO CUT DOWN ON K’S

- By DAN MARTIN

TAMPA — Adam Warren spent just over half a season with the Cubs before being sent back to the Yankees prior to the trade deadline, but he’s still likely to get a ring from their World Series win in October because it’s customary for teams to give rings to everyone who played during the season.

Obviously, though, that won’t exactly make him a champion.

“World Series ring-holder,” Warren said.

The right-hander, who was traded to Chicago before last season in exchange for Starlin Castro, struggled in his brief tenure with the Cubs, posting a 5.91 ERA in 29 appearance­s. In July, he was included in the deal that sent Aroldis Chapman to Chicago and brought Warren back to The Bronx.

It meant that instead of having a chance to be on the Cubs first Series-winning team in 108 years, Warren was home.

“It was fun watching,” said Warren, who was at the Yankees minor league complex Thursday. “I felt like I had a vested interest, but I really didn’t.”

He had mixed feelings about whether he’d have rather been with the team after it beat Cleveland in Game 7 while he watched from his home in Tampa.

“I thought about it for a second — about how that would be pretty cool to do — but I’m a big believer things happen for a reason,” Warren said. “My wife was nine months’ pregnant. … I wish could have been there to win a World Series. Hopefully we’ll do that with this team.”

Warren pitched well after his return to The Bronx — going 4-2 with a 3.26 ERA in 29 relief appearance­s — and is once again in a position to compete for a spot on the staff, either in the rotation or the bullpen.

With the Yankees opting to not add an establishe­d starter, only three spots are locked in with Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda, so the opportunit­y could be there for Warren.

“It opens up competitio­n for not just the fifth spot, but the fourth spot, as well,” Warren said. “At some point, you’ve got to figure out what you’ve got [here].”

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