Michael Pineda’s Health Key To Next Season & Beyond For Yankees

The off-season is already in motion for the New York Yankees. It was reported earlier today that the team was working on a new contract for General Manager Brian Cashman, but that is just where the heavy lifting begins. Replacing iconic shortstop Derek Jeter is on that list, finding a suitable backup for both Mark Teixeira and the returning Alex Rodrguez, and rebuilding a pitching staff that was crushed by injuries, but yet found a way to win 84 games with little to no offensive support the entire season.

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The first piece of that pitching staff puzzle comes in the way of Michael Pineda. In 13 starts in 2014, the hard-throwing righty finished at 5-5, with an ERA of 1.89. You read that correctly, 1.89. Pineda has ace written all over him, but as has been the case since his arrival in the Bronx, his healthy remains a concern to everyone involved.

"“He throws 95-mile per hour cutters…I think he can go ahead and take the next step and be a guy that can throw 200-plus innings for us next year.”                                                            (C.C. Sabathia to Anthony Rieber of Newsday)"

Pineda dealt with a variety of strange issues this season. It started with NOT getting busted for what was believed to be his use of an illegal substance in the Bronx against the Red Sox, only to get POPPED and suspended the very next start, for using said substance, which turned out to be pine tar against the same Red Sox team. A suspension, and multiple setbacks had Pineda and the Yankees feeling blue and seeing red throughout most of the season. A lesser talent would’ve been cut loose already.

However, a mid-20s right-hander, who throws 95 MPH when healthy, and can dominate ANY big league lineup, is worth the wait. The only question that will continue to hang over Michael Pineda’s head, is how dependable can he be? A healthy Pineda, along with Masahiro Tanaka, a bounce back season from Sabathia (which is not guaranteed), and maybe a return of Brandon McCarthy, makes the Yankees’ rotation one of the strongest in all of baseball. Those are some big ifs though…