Yankees’ Editorial: Can Bailey Make an Impact in 2015?

By Wayne Cavadi | Apr 2, 2015

Remember Andrew Bailey? It wasn’t so long ago that he was one of the American League’s more feared closers. Although he hadn’t pitched a baseball in over a year until this spring, Bailey may be in line to help out the 2015 New York Yankees bullpen. Chances are, it won’t be right away.

Bailey was the 2009 AL Rookie of the Year after a sensational season for the Oakland As behind a 6-3 record, an amazing 1.84 ERA and 0.88 WHIP with 26 saves in 30 chances. He was dominant for the following two seasons until Oakland traded him to Boston. A series of injuries and bad plays derailed him, leading the Red Sox to let Bailey walk.

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The 31-year old righty signed on with the Yankees last season but didn’t throw a single pitch due to shoulder injury and surgery. He was let go at the end of the season and quickly re-signed less than three weeks later. And this spring Bailey looks like Bailey again.

Albeit in limited outings, Bailey has yet to let up an earned run over five appearances. He has struck out 5 over the same span. Problem is, he hasnt yet pitched in consecutive outings. And skipper Joe Girardi doesnt think he will be ready to break the Opening Day roster until he does.

I don’t see how you could do that, Girardi told The LoHud Yankees Blog. €œAnd the one thing is, we are not going to rush him.

Bailey pitched Wednesday and with his window to pitch in consecutive games closing fast, so is his chance to make the 25-man roster. Essentially, he needs to pitch Thursday or he will begin the season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

LoHud reports, however, that the Yankees can send down the veteran and not be concerned with losing Bailey. His contract does not have an opt out clause like most veterans on minor league or one year deals do.

This is a huge advantage for the Yankees. Now that it appears that Adam Warren is the fifth starter, there is a void in the bullpen. If the Yankees have learned anything the past two seasons is that pitching depth is vital to stay afloat. Should Bailey continue to log innings at Triple-A and get comfortable making consecutive appearances regularly, there is no doubt that the Yankees will need his experience down the road.

Bailey could be one of the many interchangeable parts in the 2015 bullpen. If he can return to the form that made him one of the premier closers in the AL, the Yankees bullpen becomes even stronger.

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