Yankees: Immediate replacements for Corey Kluber in the starting rotation

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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