TAMPA — The top two candidates for the Yankees’ fifth starter job took center stage Friday and did not appear to make the decision any easier.
Luis Gil and Will Warren both turned in solid outings in their final appearances of the spring, giving the Yankees plenty to think about as they enter the final days of camp.
Gil threw the first four innings of a 5-3 win over the Mets at Steinbrenner Field, striking out five and giving up two runs on a home run to Mark Vientos.
In the process, he built his pitch count up to 63.
“He’s made a really strong case to be on this team,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Warren then entered in relief and threw five innings of one-run ball while building his pitch count up to 71.
“You see all the stuff play,” Boone said. “He’s got the starter repertoire and a lot of confidence and a great demeanor on the mound. So he’s done a nice job and earned to be in this position of making a tough decision for us.”
Two other candidates for the job, Cody Poteet and Clayton Beeter, will both pitch in the Yankees’ split-squad game against the Tigers on Saturday.
Luke Weaver is another option, though he only built up to 50 pitches on Wednesday and could be ticketed for the long man in the bullpen.
It is not necessarily an either/or choice between Gil and Warren making the roster.
Boone reiterated it was conceivable both could make the team.
If that were the case, it likely would be with Warren (who is not yet on the 40-man roster) as the fifth starter and Gil in a Michael King-like role in the bullpen.
If Warren is the fifth starter, the Yankees could also wait until the fifth game to add him to the roster and carry an extra reliever for the first four games.
“It’s how you configure your roster, what’s the best role for everyone?” Boone said. “Again, I feel like a lot of good choices. You can go beyond the two that went today that have done a really nice job.”
Boone said it was possible the Yankees make a decision before some of the team leaves for Mexico City on Saturday night, though it didn’t sound likely.
Aaron Judge made his spring debut in left field Friday and acquitted himself well, going back near the warning track to make a catch on a deep fly ball by Brett Baty in the third inning.
“He’s such a fundamentally sound outfielder and that showed up right away on that first play,” Boone said. “With Judgey, I always feel like he plays the game — it’s slowed down, but with some quickness. That showed to me in left field today, too.”
Juan Soto was originally set to play in the Yankees’ two games in Mexico City on Sunday and Monday, but he will no longer make the trip.
“I think just to be able to iron out his swing and make sure he’s where he wants to be, I think the facility and the stuff we have here, probably it’s best to keep him here and make sure he’s exactly where he wants to be heading into the regular season,” Boone said.
The exact roster flying to Mexico City on Saturday night was still up in the air as of Friday.
Still believed to be going were Giancarlo Stanton, Alex Verdugo, Jose Trevino, Anthony Volpe and Victor Gonzalez.
The Yankees optioned lefty reliever Clayton Andrews to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
