The New York Yankees’ rotation looks set as of right now: Gerrit Cole will be the ace, new incorporations Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon will follow him, and Jordan Montgomery and Domingo German will likely fill it out. However, depth is very important, and while the group is talented, it can also be considered injury-prone.
That’s why guys like Deivi Garcia, Clarke Schmidt, and Mike King are crucial to the Yankees, and that’s why they need at least one of Jhoulys Chacin and Asher Wojciechowski, cheap guys with no roster guarantees, stand out in camp.
On January 7, the Yankees signed Chacin, an experienced right-handed pitcher who has started and relieved over the course of his major league career, to a minor league contract with a spring invitation.
So far, and according to several media outlets covering the Yankees in Florida, Chacin has been able to leave a good impression.
Could the Yankees get something out of Chacin?
Chacin had a short stint with the Atlanta Braves last season and allowed four runs in five innings. In 2019, he was battered, finishing with a 6.01 ERA in 103.1 frames with two clubs. He has a lot to prove and much work to do if he wants to make the Yankees’ roster. He did have a 3.50 ERA and won 15 games in 2018.
“When I talk about the depth we’ve created, he’s part of it,†Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Chacin on Thursday, per NJ Advance Media. “If he’s in our rotation or has a spot on our staff, you feel good about it.â€
Boone praised Chacin after throwing live batting practice to Yankees’ hitters.
“I thought he was sharp,†Boone said. “I thought he worked his fastball well to both sides of the plate. He had good sinking action and threw some good breaking balls. He had a backdoor to a lefty. He’s going to be naturally tough on righties with his two-seam fastball and his slider mix. Those are two pitches that he’s very comfortable with.â€