The New York Yankees managed to put together an impressive rotation even after losing three-fifths of the 2020 unit. James Paxton, J.A. Happ, and Masahiro Tanaka are wearing other uniforms now, but the Bombers brought Corey Kluber, Jameson Taillon, and are getting Domingo German back. They also signed Jhoulys Chacin and Asher Wojciechowski for depth purposes.
However, the one that could really take the Yankees’ rotation to the next level is Luis Severino, once he completes his rehab from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last spring.
The usual timeframe for Tommy John surgery recovery is between 12 and 16 months, and he had the procedure in late February. The expectation is that Severino is ready to rejoin the rotation sometime in the summer.
Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reported that Severino is scheduled to get on the mound “in a couple of weeks,†per Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone.
The Yankees miss that power arsenal
Advancing to mound work is a major step in Severino’s recovery as he fights his way back from a long layoff. The Yankees know that the power right-handed pitcher has been highly successful when healthy.
In 2017, he pitched 193.1 innings of a 2.98 ERA and a 3.07 FIP, with a fantastic 10.71 K/9. A year later, he was also elite, with a 3.39 ERA and a 2.95 FIP in 191.1 frames. He has a career ERA of 3.46.
If the Yankees can get the best version of Severino, even if it is in late summer, they will be well-positioned to make a deep postseason run. That’s a big if, though, and by no means a sure thing. He has work to do, and the luck factor comes into play as well.
For now, the Yankees have the depth to cope. But getting Sevy back and dealing sometime in July or August would take the rotation to another level.