Should The Yankees Demote Luis Severino?

Sep 27, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (40) pitches against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (40) pitches against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Following Tuesday’s three-inning, six-run outing, Luis Severino‘s ERA sits at 6.86 and his record is now 0-3.  While it is normal for players as young as Severino to struggle, the New York Yankees were counting on Severino in a year where their entire rotation was filled with question marks.  Severino, who has struggled with his off-speed pitches, could need some time in Triple-A to sort out his issues.

Could this help the Yankees in 2016?  It’s hard to see a demotion improving the current roster.  While Severino has been far from the pitcher that we saw in 2015, and his demotion could allow him to work on his off-speed pitches without affecting the Yankees postseason chances, demoting Severino could lead to a drop in confidence.

Young players such as Severino are more likely to be affected from a demotion than a player like Mark Teixeira would be from being dropped in the order.  It is not a given that Severino would take a demotion harshly rather than working on his off-speed pitches and mechanics and working his way back to the big leagues.  What is a given is that the Yankees don’t have a clear better option at this point.

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If Severino were to be demoted, his likely replacement would be Ivan Nova, who has been nothing short of inconsistent in his career, including in his new role as a long reliever in 2016.  If Nova were having a great season this might make demoting Severino a bit easier, but, after allowing yet another run in just 1 2/3 innings pitched Sunday night, his ERA is currently sitting at 5.14 and he has allowed a whopping 10.3 hits per nine innings while only striking out 4.5 batters per nine innings.

The Yankees problems run deeper than Severino failing to live up to his rookie season so far, as the offense has been unable to produce, and the rotation, outside of Masahiro Tanaka, has been terrible.  Replacing Severino in the rotation wouldn’t turn the Yankees into a playoff contender.  Entering the season, the Yankees needed many things to go right in order to compete, and so far, none have gone right.  Severino shouldn’t be the scapegoat for the team, and shouldn’t be demoted as nearly every member of the roster has struggled.

What do you think Yankees fans?  Should Severino be demoted to work on his issues?  Let us know below.

Next: Is The Yankees Rotation Really This Bad?

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