Is the 2026 Yankees Short Leash on Starters Creating a Bigger Problem?
The Yankees are facing a mounting dilemma. Their greatest asset is being undermined by the approach of Captain Hook himself, Yankee manager Aaron Boone. Despite having one of the league’s deepest and most talented groups of starting pitchers, Boone’s quick trigger, particularly with his experimental four-man rotation in April, has resulted in starters being yanked. As a result, the bullpen is carrying a heavy load just two weeks into the season. If this trend continues, the bullpen could be running on fumes by May.
Understandably, it’s early in the season, and no one expects starters to be pushed to their limits this soon. Still, with proven workhorses like Max Fried and Cam Schlittler, the Yankees have pitchers who are built to stretch out and handle a heavier workload. Boone’s reluctance to let his starters go deeper is stunting their ability to build stamina for the long haul. Cam was lifted after just 60 pitches in a game while cruising, and Fried’s frustration was obvious in his last start, when he was pulled in the seventh, even though he was grinding through and meeting the challenge. Boone’s habit of not letting pitchers stretch out, even when they’re in control, prevents them from developing the endurance needed to anchor the staff later in the season.
The burden from Boone’s short leash on starters has fallen directly on a bullpen that, despite offseason reinforcements, is revealing cracks. Most glaring is the heavy overuse of closer David Bednar. Just two weeks into the season, Bednar has already appeared in seven of the Yankees’ first 13 games, tied for most among MLB closers, and thrown nine innings, well above the league average for this point in the year. His fastball velocity has dipped from an average of 96.2 mph last season to 94.8 mph since returning from the World Baseball Classic, raising concerns about fatigue. While Bednar is willing to take the ball for multi-inning outings, no closer can shoulder the entire load night after night. The lack of starter innings would only make sense if the bullpen was deep and reliable enough to share the work, but the Yankees’ relief corps, while numerous, hasn’t delivered consistent results. This has forced Boone to narrow his circle of trusted relievers, leaving some arms underused and at least one without a single appearance so far.
To address the growing issue of bullpen overuse, the Yankees are weighing adjustments that could provide immediate relief. One remedy under consideration is promoting Luis Gil, the hard-throwing former Rookie of the Year, with the stamina to cover multiple innings. There’s also renewed discussion about moving a starter, such as Ryan Weathers, into a bullpen role, a strategy the team openly considered during the offseason. These moves could help stabilize the late innings by adding fresh, reliable options and reducing the dependence on overworked arms like Bednar and Tim Hill. Until those adjustments are made, the Yankees continue to cycle through setup options. Camilo Doval and Jake Bird have been inconsistent, and Fernando Cruz has been deployed there and in almost every other situation. While Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough have shown positive flashes, neither can be relied on daily. The sooner the Yankees implement these bullpen reinforcements, the better their chances of preserving their pitching staff for the long haul.
The odd man out is Cade Winquest, an MLB Rule 5 Draft pick who has not made an appearance after a lackluster spring training. If the Yankees reach the roster deadline and haven’t used him or don’t wish to keep him on their major league roster, they are required by Rule 5 regulations to return him to the Cardinals. This means the Yankees essentially lose the roster spot they dedicated to Winquest and miss out on the chance to give that spot to a potentially more impactful player, such as a rising prospect from their own system like Carlos Lagrange or Elmer Rodriguez. Both have impressed in spring training, showcasing high-velocity fastballs and the poise to contribute immediately at the big-league level. By not giving these young pitchers a chance and instead keeping an unproven option on the roster, the Yankees are missing out on potential impact and fresh energy at a time when their bullpen needs it most. Relying on a limited sample size to define trustworthiness this early only compounds the issue. It’s important to note that bullpens take time to reveal who they really are. Discovering who can be counted on, showing patience, and the willingness to try promising arms are critical to building a dominant relief corps.
