Bombers add Garcia as rotation insurance
With the addition of Jaime Garcia on Sunday, Joe Girardi said he believes the Yankees’ rotation is good enough to get the team into the postseason.
Asked if he was confident the pitching staff now could get the team “where you want to go,” Girardi said: “I am. This rotation has gotten us to this point, and we’ve played very well.”
Wi t h Mon d ay ’s nonwa iv e r trade deadline approaching, the Yankees and A’s remained in talks regarding Sonny Gray, who would provide even more of a boost to the rotation.
Garcia coming from Minnesota could help. He was acquired in exc ha n ge for mi no r league pi tc hers Zack Littell and Dietrich Enns , as well as a minimal amount of cash.
“He ’ s been talked about for a while,” Girardi said of Garcia before the Yankees lost to t he Rays, 5 - 3, in The Bronx on Su n d a y. “We got the f inality of it [Sunday] morning. He’s an experienced starter, and as you know, we’ve used a lot of people in that fifth spot si n ce Michael [Pineda] went down.”
Pineda was lost for the season this month after undergoing Tommy John s urgery, and t he Ya nk e e s turned to Luis Cessa and Ca le b S mi t h in his absence. Both underwhelmed.
Garcia, slated to start Thursday in Cleveland, hardly has been lights-out lately.
In 19 starts this season, he has a 4.29 ERA. Garcia made just one start with Minnesota after the Twins acquired him from the Braves last week before they changed direction.
Despite the fact Garcia isn’t a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, he does provide length — something the Yankees need. He’s gone at least six innings in all but four starts this season, and Girardi liked the fact he has performed in the spotlight before in his career, mostly with the Cardinals.
“It’s a guy that’s pitched in some high-leverage situations,” Girardi said. “He’s pitched in St. Louis, where there’s been big expectations. We’re excited we got him.”
Todd Frazier called Garcia a “crafty left-hander.”
He will join Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and Jordan Montgomery in the rotation.
There are no plans to go to a six-man rotation, according to Girardi and the manager added there is no plan to limit Montgomery and Severino’s innings.
“It’s obviously easier [to go to a six-man] in September,” Girardi said of expanded rosters. “As of right now, no, but I can change my mind.”
And they will monitor both young pitchers.
“Their future, to me, is more important than one year,’’ Girardi said. “And the longevity of their health and their success is more important than one year, so you have to weigh all those factors.”