It may be a while before we see any changes. Gil performed impressively in his first start of the year, having earned the position during spring training. With Gerrit Cole’s return still distant, the Yankees rely on Gil to maintain his roster spot primarily.
Even when Cole does return and the rotation becomes crowded, it’s unlikely that the Yankees envision Gil as the closer. Instead, they would likely utilize him in a multi-inning fireman role to keep him prepared, possibly even sending him down to maintain his readiness for a potential return if another rotation member is sidelined. Given the circumstances, if someone else misses time before Cole returns, Gil’s spot in the rotation is almost guaranteed.
Regarding the current closer’s performance, while Clay Holmes has been somewhat nerve-wracking to watch, he generally gets the job done. Apart from a challenging August last year, Holmes has consistently demonstrated his strong abilities since joining from Pittsburgh and has rightfully earned his place at the forefront of the bullpen.
However, for those seeking a change, Ian Hamilton is worth monitoring. His impressive rise since joining the Yankees may even surpass Holmes’, and he should have earned the trust of Aaron Boone moving forward. Despite concerns about the Yankees’ bullpen depth following offseason losses, their ability to consistently unearth talents like Holmes and Hamilton suggests they’ll be more than capable moving forward.
Hector H. Hernandez inquires: In an optimistic scenario where DJLM, Cabrera, Peraza, and Berti are all fit simultaneously, how would their positions be allocated?
It’s a challenging decision because it will be some time before we potentially see all of these players healthy and available for the team. This gives the current roster players a chance to either solidify their positions or risk losing them.
LeMahieu is the only one among this group who has a secured spot on the team, but the surrounding players could look quite different from the original plan when he was sidelined. Oswaldo Cabrera has made a strong impression with his performance in Houston, and Jon Berti, with his versatility, seems to be an underrated addition to the team. While neither player is guaranteed to remain, given a few more weeks to establish themselves, it would be difficult to justify cutting either one.
