ARLINGTON – Starting today, the Yankees will get a better idea what they need to do about the fifth spot in their rotation.
That’s because Jose Contreras gets the ball against the Rangers at Ameriquest Field against the Rangers after two outings for Columbus (Triple-A) that the Yankees hope cleared the troubled right-hander’s head.
However, GM Brian Cashman said this week that how Contreras performs will dictate what the Yankees do about the No. 5 spot. If Contreras can string together quality starts, Cashman won’t look for help. However, if Contreras gets spanked the way he was before being sent to the minors on May 5, Cashman will be very busy searching for an arm.
“I expect him to take the ball and be aggressive,” Joe Torre said of Contreras, who was in Texas last night but not eligible to be at Ameriquest because he wasn’t on the 25-man roster. “That’s the feelings we got from the reports we got. From the time he was away until now he is ready to go. Hopefully that will be the case.”
The Yankees are likely to option reliever Bret Prinz to Columbus to make room for Contreras. Tanyon Sturtze is also an option, but the Yankees would likely lose him before they had a chance to see him pitch since he hasn’t worked since being acquired last weekend.
While Torre has his fingers crossed, he admitted he doesn’t know what Contreras will be like.
“We will see what we see. I am as anxious as you guys,” Torre said. “The beginning of the game is very important, that he gets going in the right direction.”
Welcome back
Jose Contreras returns from the minor leagues for the third time as a Yankee today, when he will pitch against the Mariners in Seattle. Here’s a look at Contreras’ time in the minors, how he fared there, and in his comeback games:
2003
For Yankees: 5 relief appearances, 1-0, 10.80 ERA, 4 BB, 3 K
Sent to minors April 19
Columbus/Trenton: 4 games, 3 starts, 2-0, 1.10 ERA, 4 BB, 21 K
Returned to face Red Sox, May 20
Lost in relief, 1 1/3 innings, 2 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 1 K
Placed on disabled list June 7 (right shoulder strain)
Sent to minors Aug. 11 (rehab assignment)
Tampa/Staten Island: 2 starts, 1.64 ERA, 3 BB, 20 K
Returned to face Orioles, Aug. 24
Won as starter, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
2004
For Yankees: 5 starts, 1-2, 9.47 ERA, 14 BB, 17 K
Sent to minors May 5
For Columbus: 2 starts, 2-0, 3.29 ERA, 5 BB, 19 K
Returns to face Mariners, May 22