Adam Warren: Too Versatile For His Own Good

jon abbey

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Jul 15, 2005
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Adam Warren is NY's third best SP right now, he has really broken through over his last five starts. Before then, he had ten career starts, and he didn't make it through six innings once. Since then, all five games he has gone at least 6.1 IP and has a 2.70 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP over that span.
 
So it's unfortunate that when Nova is ready (after 1 or 2 starts in AAA if he stays on track), it's becoming increasingly clear that the best move for NY is Warren to the bullpen, where he can fill the huge gap of second RHP/third reliable end-game guy and take some of the pressure off Betances and Miller having to finish seemingly every game where NY has a lead, no matter how large. 
 
Tanaka
Pineda
Eovaldi
CC
Nova
 
Capuano or Rogers
Lindgren
Shreve
Wilson
Warren
Betances
Miller
 
Bryan Mitchell can step up as the 6th starter in case of emergency, he has allowed a total of 4 ERs in his last 5 starts in AAA (29 19 4 4 18 22) for a 1.24 ERA. Those walks are troubling, but still an OK option for a couple of turns at least. 
 
The other possibilities are 1) going to six starters, which is obviously fraught with complications as the Mets just saw and 2) moving one of the other starters to the pen, but I don't know who that could be. Tanaka/Pineda obviously no, no way they give up on Eovaldi this quickly, CC is CC, and Nova is coming off Tommy John and the uncertain schedule of a bullpen guy seems like a very bad idea for him. Hence, Warren to the pen is I think the way to go, difficult and even counterintuitive as it may seem initially. 
 
Also there is maybe an innings concern with Warren, although at almost 28 maybe he is past that. But he was a reliever the past two seasons and threw just under 80 innings each year, he is already at 64.1 now. 
 

jon abbey

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Jul 15, 2005
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Oh, also I doubt it's a coincidence that Warren and Nova are both lined up to start on Saturday. 
 

jon abbey

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Jul 15, 2005
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Now Warren and CC have been flipped, taking advantage of the off days this week. Warren is on Sunday and Nova still Saturday in AAA, so he'd get an extra day if he takes over from Warren next time around. 
 
The Miller injury makes this move even more urgent IMO, assuming Nova looks good again tomorrow, of course.
 

jon abbey

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Jul 15, 2005
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Didn't expect this, but I guess it makes sense, especially if CC's knee gives out again. NY was worried about Warren and innings earlier in the season, since he was a reliever for 2013/2014, but getting his innings count up a bit now could make him a better rotation option for 2016:
 
"In the wake of Nathan Eovaldi’s injury, Brian Cashman says Adam Warren will move into the rotation to be slowly stretched out again. Will be obviously very limited his first few starts."
 
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2015/09/08/gardner-sits-again-warren-moving-to-rotation/