Who Is The True Ace Of The New York Yankees?

By Caleb Gebrewold | Feb 3, 2016

Entering the 2015 season, Masahiro Tanaka was viewed as the New York Yankees most likely ace, but also as the starter who likely possessed the biggest question marks. Entering 2016, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, predicted Luis Severino as the Yankees most likely ace candidate.

Severino possesses great potential, but will only be 22 in 2016. While he posted an ERA of 2.89 in 11 starts in 2015, Severino’s FIP was much higher, at 4.37. Severino surely has the ability to be the Yankees ace in 2015, but he also has question marks surrounding him, as he is very inexperienced, and could hit a sophomore slump.

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While I think that Severino will have a great season, I still believe that Tanaka will be the Yankees ace in 2016. Yes, Tanaka did have offseason surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow, and, yes, Tanaka has been unable to stay healthy since coming over from Japan and joining the Yankees.

Tanaka, however, has avoided Tommy John surgery, and is now a year further removed from the partial UCL tear he suffered in 2014. While, last year, Tanaka didn’t look like the same pitcher he was in 2014, he could be due for a big 2016, as his UCL should be further rehabilitated, and thus, closer to 100%. If Tanaka is able to stay healthy, I believe that him and Severino will be a very formidable 1-2 punch atop the Yankees rotation.

Due to the Yankees question marks, it is hard to truly predict who will be their ace, as seemingly any starter could hit the shelf, or struggle, opening the door for another to become the ace. Entering Spring Training, however, Tanaka is likely the Yankees best bet to be the ace, as he has been for the past two years.

The Yankees rotation is riddled with question marks, something that has been highly documented throughout the offseason, but it has the potential to be one of the better staffs, top to bottom, in the entire MLB. Of course, a lot would have to go right in order for that to happen, but it wouldn’t be the strangest thing to happen, as the Yankees have four young starters with a very high ceiling, and one veteran, who could rebound well now that he is, presumably, sober and healthy.

While I believe that the Yankees could have used a sure-fire ace atop the rotation, one such as David Price or Zack Greinke, I have a strong confidence in the rotation, as it stands today.

What do you think Yankees fans? Who will be the Yankees ace in 2016? Let us know in the comments below.

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