The New York Yankees entered the offseason with optimism about their long-term rotation outlook—and anxiety about how they will survive the early months of 2026. That tension is exactly why Joel Sherman’s latest New York Post Sports+ column struck a nerve. Sherman outlined MLB’s growing trend of relievers successfully transitioning back into starters, a market inefficiency that the Yankees may be better positioned to exploit than almost anyone.
Sherman highlighted right-hander Brad Keller as the latest example of the movement. After years of inconsistency and a brutal stretch from 2021 to 2024, Keller revived his career out of the Chicago Cubs‘ bullpen in 2025. His numbers weren’t just good—they were elite. Keller posted a 2.07 ERA across 68 appearances, held opponents to a .182 batting average, and produced one of the league’s best ground-ball rates at 55.5 percent. His strikeout rate jumped to 27.2 percent, and his fastball velocity leapt more than 3 mph, averaging 97.2 after thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.
Those gains—paired with a sharpened sinker and sweeper—sparked league-wide interest in whether Keller could convert back into a starter, following the paths of Clay Holmes, Michael King, Reynaldo López, and Seth Lugo. As Sherman noted, Keller’s camp is based in New York, and the Yankees haven’t yet seriously engaged, but his profile fits exactly what the team may need.
A Rotation Built on Talent—and Timelines
The Yankees’ optimism comes from upside. If fully healthy, their rotation could be among the strongest in baseball. But the calendar is the real threat. Gerrit Cole won’t pitch until around May at best. Carlos Rodón faces a similar timeline. Clarke Schmidt may not return until the second half. That leaves Max Fried carrying the load early, flanked by Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler, and Will Warren—all talented, none guaranteed to shoulder six months of uninterrupted innings.
As Brian Cashman told Sherman, “We have pitching depth, but it’s going to be challenged early.” He added, “We’ll be exploring how to protect ourselves so we’re not taking on water early.” The message is clear: New York needs arms that can stabilize the present as much as they protect the future.
That’s what makes the reliever-to-starter trend so appealing. Keller represents the most intriguing version of it, but he’s not alone.
A Cost-Efficient Trend That Fits the Yankees’ Needs
Sherman noted a trio of former big-league pitchers—Foster Griffin, Cody Ponce, and Anthony Kay—who rebuilt their careers overseas and plan to return to MLB. All three could be targeted as hybrid depth pieces who can start, relieve, and shift roles as the Yankees’ rotation gets healthy.
There’s also Luke Weaver, who said on Sherman’s podcast last season that he might be open to returning to a starting role. Weaver has the makeup the Yankees typically look for: versatility, experience in big markets, and the willingness to adapt roles based on team needs.
What makes this trend especially appealing for New York is the cost. High-end starters will command massive contracts in a pitching-thin free-agent market. But relievers transitioning into starter-capable arms come cheaper—and offer the flexibility the Yankees absolutely need.
If Cole and Rodón come back on schedule, the Yankees can slide any hybrid addition back into the bullpen, an area the team also wants to reinforce. If injuries mount again, they already have someone stretched out.
Sherman’s column reads like a roadmap the Yankees can’t afford to ignore. They don’t need a star. They need a stabilizer—someone who keeps the Yankees afloat until their rotation resembles what they envisioned last spring.
The trend is real. The opportunity is there. And for a Yankees team juggling risk and ambition, tapping into MLB’s newest pitching market might be the smartest move they make all winter.
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