Last time I looked at the spots in the 25 man roster that were likely set in stone, as well as who might fill the final offensive spots. Now I'll take a look at which pitchers are going to be attending Spring Training (as of now) and who might find themselves on the major league roster to start the season. For the purposes of this, I didn't bother with Carl Pavano, Humberto Sanchez, or Andrew Brackman, all on the 40 man roster. Brackman won't even be ready for the minors until 2009 in all likelihood (certainly not to start the season), and Pavano probably won't be back with the Yankees at all, and again, certainly not before the end of the season. Sanchez is an interesting case as he could have an impact with the Yankees this season, but he won't be ready to start the season. I'll also seperate the guys into righties and lefties, simply because one of the lefties may end up making the team even though the righties are more plentiful and probably could be better.
RIGHT HANDED PITCHERS
Ross Ohlendorf: Ohlendorf received a September callup in 2007 and pitched very well (albeit in 6 innings). He struggled in his one inning in the playoffs, but the fact that he even made the roster should tell you something. Ohlendorf seems like a decent bet to make the team to start the season, although it's not out of the question that he could go back to the minors for a little while.
Edwar Ramirez: I really don't know what to make of Edwar. His changeup is just disgustingly good and his minor league numbers are fantastic. If he had a second good pitch I'd write the poor major league numbers off as extenuating circumstances and give him a shot right out of Spring Training. But realistically, Edwar's fastball just isn't that great. If hitters are able to sit on it, he's going to have a problem in the majors, no matter how great his changeup is. He's got as good a shot as anyone to make the team out of Spring Training, but he's another guy who I expect to be on a short leash. I'd love to see him succeed, especially with that great changeup, but he may need something more.
Brian Bruney: Bruney might be out of options, I'm actually not sure. When he can keep his control even somewhat in line, he does have very good stuff, and Yankee fans saw that from time to time last season. Unfortunately, he doesn't always manage that very well, and Yankee fans saw that as well. He's also got a good chance to make the team if he has a strong spring, but he, like almost everyone on this list, is going to be on a very short leash.
Mark Melancon: Added for the sake of completeness. He won't make the team out of Spring Training, that's pretty much a certainty. However, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him on the Yankees later this season, if he has a strong showing in the minors.
Chris Britton: Poor Chris couldn't buy a callup last season it seemed. And when he did make it, he pitched fairly well for the most part but still wasn't trusted. Perhaps Girardi will be different. Britton actually has some success in the AL East (he had a good season in Baltimore), so he really should get a shot at least.
Jeff Marquez: Nope, he's likely to be back in the minors as a starter, although he could see time during the season in case of injuries.
Jose Veras: Here's another possibility after a decent September (he was better than his final numbers show, almost all of his earned runs came in a single game). He too made the playoff roster, so like Ohlendorf, that does show the Yankees are high enough on him that he likely has a shot at making the 25 man out of Spring Training.
Jonathan Albaladejo: For those who don't recall, he's the guy who came over from the Nationals in the Tyler Clippard trade. He did decent but not great in AA last season, but was excellent in AAA and had a strong September with the Nats. He's certainly a possibility to make it out of Spring Training, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him sent to AAA so the Yankees can see firsthand what they got before sending him to the majors (not unlike Chris Britton).
Jeff Karstens: If Kennedy and Joba are both on the roster, then forget it. If not, then Karstens is a possibility for a long relief role. I'm not a huge fan though, to be honest. He struggled greatly last year when not injured, and I don't think he's a great option out of the bullpen.
Darrell Rasner: Another guy Yankee fans have seen for the past couple of years, Rasner was actually taken off the 40 man, which may not be a good sign for how the organization views him. However, I like Rasner. Realistically the Yankee organization is not the place for him, since there are way too many starting options above him. However, if Kennedy (or Joba I suppose) starts the season in the minors, I think Rasner would be an excellent option for a long relief role.
Daniel McCutchen: Nope. He could end up as a reliever, but at the moment he's a starter. He'll head back to the minors for now, but it's not out of the question we could see him this year. I'd expect him in 2009 though.
Alan Horne: Here's an interesting one. Horne had an excellent season in the minors last year as a starter, and he could continue down that path. However, there are a few guys ahead of him, and Horne does have stuff that would probably translate well to the bullpen. I doubt he makes it out of Spring Training, I expect the Yankees to have him continue to pitch as a starter in the minors for the time being, but he's a guy we could see sometime during the season, as a reliever or starter depending on how he is needed.
Steven Jackson: I doubt he has any real shot at making the team as a reliever short of something very bizarre happening. Eventually I suppose it's a possibility, but he still has things to work on in the minors.
Steven White: Here's someone I think we will see sometime this season, and perhaps even right out of Spring Training if he does very well. White's been with the organization for a bit now and just finished a season at AAA. The Yankees are going to need to make a decision about him soon. He's probably going to be blocked as a starter unless a few injuries occur, so the Yanks may as well try him out in the bullpen.
Scott Patterson: Patterson has done very well in the minors so far, but he's not thought as highly of as many others. He should have a shot though if he does well in Spring Training, and unless he starts struggling in the minors, he's a good bet to at least be given a chance to do something in the majors at some point this season.
Daniel Giese: The nice thing about Giese is that he doesn't walk a lot of people (remember how frustrated we as Yankee fans would get when we had Farnsworth, Proctor, and Bruney all walking the ballpark?). He will give up his share of hits, but he's got a chance at making the bullpen. If not, we could still see him at some point this year.
Scott Strickland: Strickland is interesting in that he actually has some major league experience (although all in the NL), where he did pretty well. But he hasn't pitched in the majors since 2005, and there only for 4 innings. I expect him to head to AAA, but he could be an option at some point.
LEFT HANDED PITCHERS
Kei Igawa: At some point the Yankees are likely to do something with Igawa, they're paying him enough. He may initially be viewed as a starting option in cae of injury to multiple pitchers, but at some point they should try to either trade him or see if he can work in the bullpen at all. I'd be shocked if he made the team out of spring training, but we'll probably end up seeing him at some point this season, in some role.
Heath Phillips: I suppose he's a possibility, but it doesn't seem too likely.
Chase Wright: Here's someone we saw as a starter last season. I expect Chase to be converted to the bullpen, and it might be pretty soon, but I wouldn't expect him to make the team out of spring training.
Sean Henn: Henn occasionally showed some flashes of brilliance, but overall has struggled everytime he pitched in the majors. He's quickly running out of chances, and he may not even get one this time. However, he's probably a better bet to make the team (should they decide they need a left handed reliever) than Wright, Phillips, or Igawa.
Billy Traber: Traber may not be a great bet and normally would be ignored, however, if you look at his career splits against lefties, they're quite good. He may not be ideal, especially since the splits against righties are, well, not at all good. But if it's between him or Henn, he has a good chance at making the team.
That's everyone. So who do the Yankees go with? I honestly don't know. I think Ohlendorf is going to make the team, so that's one of the three remaining spots. I'm also going to guess Bruney makes it, because I believe he's out of options. If it was me, I'd probably cut ties with him or at least try to send him down to the minors, but we'll see. That leaves one spot. I'd rather see a guy like Britton, Albaladejo, or Veras get a shot (or perhaps Edwar), but if the Yankees choose to go with a lefty, I'll guess that Traber makes it.
So my best guess for a final roster:
1. Jorge Posada
2. Robinson Cano
3. Derek Jeter
4. Alex Rodriguez
5. Hideki Matsui
6. Johnny Damon
7. Melky Cabrera
8. Bobby Abreu
9. Wilson Betemit
10. Shelley Duncan
11. Jason Giambi
12. Jose Molina
13. Nick Green
14. Chien Ming Wang
15. Andy Pettitte
16. Phil Hughes
17. Joba Chamberlain
18. Mike Mussina
19. Mariano Rivera
20. Kyle Farnsworth
21. LaTroy Hawkins
22. Ian Kennedy
23. Ross Ohlendorf
24. Brian Bruney
25. Billy Traber
Nick Green could be replaced with Alberto Gonzalez, Kennedy could be replaced by Rasner or Karstens, and those last three could be switched out with any number of guys, but I think that's a good possibility for the opening day roster, if there are no more trades and people stay healthy.
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