Yankees: Immediate replacements for Corey Kluber in the starting rotation

The New York Yankees learned on Wednesday that Corey Kluber will be shut down for a month. That means we can probably expect him back closer to the All-Star break considering he’ll have to take part in some simulated games before going on rehab assignments.

That means there will be a void in the starting rotation for what feels like at least six weeks. And it won’t be easy filling Kluber’s shoes after the month he’s had.

But the Yankees have some time to make their decision. Kluber was the last starter in the rotation to pitch, meaning his slot won’t be scheduled to throw until Sunday.

Who will join Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, Domingo German and Jameson Taillon? The Bombers have a few internal guys on deck who are ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Manager Aaron Boone wasn’t kidding back in spring training when he said more than five guys would be providing meaningful starts for the team throughout the 2021 season. Sadly, everyone knew an injury was coming. It’s here, now it’s time to adapt.

Here are some immediate rotation replacements for the Yankees after Corey Kluber’s injury.

3. Sal Romano

This is a move the Yankees just made last week. After the Cincinnati Reds designated him for assignment, New York swooped in and signed Sal Romano to a minor-league deal.

He won’t be the guy the Yankees call upon at this moment, but there’s an outside chance he could be at some point if they need someone to eat innings/if another injury were to occur. Romano hasn’t been a starter since 2018, but maybe he goes back to that at Triple-A and is used within the next month or so.

Throughout his six-year career, he’s logged 41 starts and 42 relief appearances. He’s got experience in both roles … but he’s yet to put it together. He’s got a 5.07 career ERA as a starter and a 5.47 mark as a reliever.

He relies heavily on his sinker, so perhaps the Yanks see value in that. If he can stretch his arm back out and induce a ton of grounders, it’s not crazy to think he could be a possibility later on to fill in from time to time. Especially considering we don’t really know what the deal will be with these next two options. Romano wouldn’t sniff this list had a number of other guys been healthy (Luis Severino, Clarke Schmidt, Asher Wojcieshowski), but this is what we’re dealing with at the moment.

1. Deivi Garcia

This feels like the no-brainer decision, but do the Yankees ever make it that easy? It really seems like they don’t.

Deivi Garcia was a much-needed arm on the 2020 Yankees as they became decimated with injuries, but the additions of Kluber and Taillon as well as the return of Domingo German sent him right back to the minor leagues.

He’s made one start for big league club in 2021, but he tossed only four innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits and three walks in a loss to the Orioles. It was clear he could still use some refinement at Triple-A.

Then again, his six-start cameo last year was perhaps enough to convince the Yankees he could be a quality fill-in if something like Kluber’s injury were to happen. He delivered three quality starts and went six innings or more in four of them. Not bad for a guy who had never pitched above Double-A.

Unfortunately, he’s not having a good run at Triple-A this year. He’s got a 5.17 ERA and 1.60 WHIP, indicating he’s not fully out of the woods as a prospect yet. But the Yankees know what they have in him and know how they can utilize him. Maybe he just likes the bright lights better than Scranton, Pennsylvania? Perhaps.

Maybe they go with a bullpen game in place of Kluber’s next start to give it some more thought since the relievers have been well-rested during the starters’ recent stretch of dominance. But Garcia should probably be up with the Yanks before long.

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