New York Yankees Rapid Reaction: Michael Pineda To DL; Trade Needed?

Originally supposed to start tonight, New York Yankees number two pitcher Michael Pineda is being sent to the 15-Day DL. Ivan Nova was also rumored to be hurt, but should be ready for his upcoming start. Bryan Mitchell is set to start the last game of this four game set in Texas, it will be his second career start. These headlines coming to the baseball world right after the Blue Jays officially trade their top prospect for David Price. Here are some options for the Yankees with the trade deadline at the back of their necks (well just Brian Cashman’s) to keep ahead of the game.

Mike Leake

With David Price and Cole Hamels no longer being up for grabs, there is still a trade option, one that could be better than the first two. Mike Leake, Reds’ 27 year-old righty is still available as they continue to sell their team away. Cashman said he could wait right up until the last hour to make a move so prices dwindle, but with the bigger named starters being gone already, he might want to make a move now. Pineda going to the DL, a struggling CC and a weary Nova is not something you want to have in the month of August. The Yanks have a comfortable lead and have a series against the Red Sox and Jays coming up, despite their success against the AL East this year, few of those games can be considered ‘easy’. Leake will be a free agent this off-season, but could be easier to retain than a David Price. This move would also help the Yankees come October, as Leake has only made one post-season appearance in 2012.

Adam Warren

Should Brian Cashman still sit still on this year’s deadline, Adam Warren is still a major asset for the Yanks’ as a simple move that could have the team in no panic at all while Pineda is gone. As what fans have been callling for nearly a month now, put Warren back in the rotation, and move CC Sabathia to the pen. This situation has been played out over and over again, and it doesn’t seem like a bad move no matter how many times you think about it. His ERA is 3.40, not to mention he could’ve been considered the Yankees best starter when he was in the rotation for Nova. The team will probably see how Sabathia pitches tonight, but Adam Warren seems like the best fit, oh, and he’s also already on the team. This move will require no trade (for a starter) and it’s made sense for a while now, what better time to carry it out than with Pineda going down?

Luis Severino

The last option is even more fan-friendly than the last, and would also not call for a trade. Luis Severino is 7-0 with a 1.91 ERA in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (yes, you read that right). Calling up Severino would mean Warren stays as a key piece in the bullpen, CC stays as a starter (most likely). Severino’s next scheduled start is August 4th, and he is at 99.1 IP this year between Triple-A and Double-A Trenton. He is said to be maxed out at 150 this season, and that’s plenty enough time for Pineda to get back to full health. This might not be a great time to throw the Yankees’ number one prospect into the fire, to replace the second pitcher in the rotation, but it could also keep them ahead of the AL East. The Jays just traded their number one prospect in Daniel Norris, maybe the Yankees should show teams why they didn’t trade their’s.

In terms of possibility, I’d say the second option is more likely to happen with Warren already proving he can start. Mike Leake would be second as there are reports the Yankees have been in contact with the Reds. James Shields is still available, but with Cashman holding onto prospects and the Padres looking for them, that’s unlikely. Severino would be a great option, but just as Aaron Judge, the organization is not going to rush anything now that they have top prospects again. Once again, a lot of this depends on Bryan Mitchell’s start tonight, and if he can gain trust from Joe Girardi that he can stay in while Pineda is gone.

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