Yankees confident about pitching depth, and for good reason

"Starting pitching depth at this time of year is a mostly illusory concept. Team after team in spring training will publicly express their comfort level with the starting pitchers in camp and the starters on 'the cusp' of the majors in their minor-league systems. It's a reminder about repeating a lie often enough that it becomes the truth."

"This year, even with Cole, Rodon and Schmidt all set to begin the season on the IL, the Yankees have been even more outspoken than usual about the comfort they have in their organizational starting pitching depth. And while acknowledging that injuries and the vagaries of the sport once the games start for real can change the equation at any time, the Yankees, behind the scenes, feel the same way as their public discourse."

"Three of your [rotation] guys starting on the IL is a disaster. You look at what the Yankees have in their place and you're like, 'that still might be pretty good.' And it's not like it has to last the season."

Spring training teams routinely claim deep starting pitching depth, but most privately doubt these assertions. The Yankees exemplified this in 2023, publicly touting depth behind their expected rotation while scouts remained skeptical. This year differs significantly. Despite Cole, Rodon, and Schmidt beginning the season injured, the Yankees maintain both public confidence and private conviction in their organizational pitching depth. Rival talent evaluators acknowledge that while losing three rotation members would typically be catastrophic, the Yankees' replacement options remain competitive. Organizational insiders confirm this represents genuine depth rather than typical spring training rhetoric, marking a meaningful shift from previous years.

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