Yankees Rumors: Colby Lewis Could Be Emergency Rotation Option

In 2010, Colby Lewis was the Yankees’ worst nightmare. Now he becomes an option to join the starting rotation. Talks of Lewis re-joining the Texas Rangers have fallen through, as reported in several Dallas-based outlets. Lewis has been with the Rangers for all but two of the nine major league seasons. 

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Lewis beat the Yanks twice in the ALCS that year, throwing a dominating, eight-inning performance (giving one run on three hits) in the Game Six series clincher. 2014 was a comeback year for Lewis, after tearing the flexor muscle in his throwing arm and developing bone chips in his right hip in 2013. He posted a sub-4.00 ERA in the second half of 2014 for a losing squad. The 35-year-old righty has post season experience (4-1, 2.34), and if his second half form holds up, he could be a short-term, inexpensive deal (Lewis has never made more than $3.25 million in a season) to bridge to other Yankee minor league pitching options.

Lewis famously came back from a serious shoulder injury in 2006. After being released by the Tigers, A’s and Nationals, he spent two seasons in Japan, and re-established his career, leading Japan’s Central League in strikeouts. In 2010, he was signed to a two-year contract by the Rangers. Lewis owns a six-pitch repertoire, and is considered a high-strikeout, low-walk pitcher, who has been known to give up home runs.

However, the Yankees have too many internal (Luis Severino, returning Ivan Nova) and external (Lester, Scherzer, Shields, McCarthy) options to consider Lewis anything more than a last resort, late winter option for their rotation. Lewis may be considered a stop-gap or quick fix if he’s willing to take a minor league deal with incentives and may turn out to be a bargain.