Corey Kluber’s injury is a setback for the Yankees, but the team’s front office believes Deivi Garcia is ready to replace him in the short term.
Corey Kluber went from flying high in the aftermath of his no-hitter to retreating to the Yankees’ Injured List in a matter of one week. His extended absence is a significant blow to Aaron Boone’s roster, but the organization believes it has the roster depth required to cope with Kluber’s expected 8-week absence.
Prized prospect Deivi Garcia will get the first opportunity to claim Kluber’s vacated spot in the team’s starting rotation. According to manager Aaron Boone, the young right-hander will get one start in Detroit this weekend. Boone claims that move was planned before Kluber’s injury.
Garcia’s return to the Bronx shouldn’t be a surprise for Yankees fans. He’s the organization’s top pitching prospect and he showed flashes of real quality for New York last season. His erratic form this season in the minors is a cause for some concern, but there’s a staunch belief that his focus will improve after returning to the Big Leagues.
The Yankees don’t need him to pitch like an ace during Kluber’s absence, but they do need him to string together quality starts to avoid overtaxing the team’s exceptional bullpen.
Garcia isn’t the only option
If Garcia doesn’t prove worthy of taking the ball every five days, Yankees fans should expect Michael King to get the next opportunity. He’s not fully stretched out to be a starter at this point in the season, but he’s impressed members of the organization with his quality work out of the bullpen this year.
He lacks the high ceiling that makes Garcia such an intriguing long-range prospect, but King should have the ability to perform at a replacement level while Kluber gets back to full health.
The big takeaway here for Yankees fans is that Cashman and the front office aren’t anywhere close to making a panic deal for a starting pitcher to replace Kluber. The team is still interested in adding a difference-maker should one come available down the stretch, but a trade for a replacement-level pitcher isn’t something the team is prioritizing at this time. The Yankees are prepared to exercise patience until Kluber returns.