New York Yankees: Does Spring Training Matter for Yankees Starting Rotation?

The New York Yankees have some depth in their starting rotation as they head into the 2012 season.

Manager Joe Girardi has said that he will narrow the rotation down to a five-man rotation, and it is going to be an open competition for the final three spots. With C.C Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda already locked in the rotation, that leaves Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes, Michael Pineda and Freddy Garcia fighting for the remaining spots.

But is there really a fight? Are the spots already filled in the mind of the Yankees? Do these pitchers' performances in spring training really matter when making the decision of who will start the season in the rotation?

Going in to spring training, the expectation was probably that the rotation would consist of Sabathia, Pineda, Nova, Kuroda, and Hughes. That would leave Garcia as the odd man out. However, the spots in the remaining rotation are supposedly up for grabs. It feels like it would take a lot for the projected rotation, not be the actual one when the season starts.

Nova was one of the most important players on the Yankees in 2011, and he emerged as one of the best young players in the game. He went 16-4 with a 3.70 ERA. You would think that his spot in the rotation would be secure, but it has yet to be. He has struggled so far in the spring.

If he continues to struggle, could we see a starting rotation without Nova in it? I don't think so.

The Yankees ended their offseason silence by making a big deal that sent their top prospect, Jesus Montero, to the Seattle Mariners for Michael Pineda. Pineda has pitched well so far, but if he had not, would he be the odd man out? I doubt the Yankees would have traded Montero for someone who didn't have a safe spot in the rotation.

That leaves Garcia and Hughes battling for the final spot.

Hughes was once one of the Yankees' top prospects. He has had an up-and-down career so far that hit a low in 2011. He missed most of the season because of an injury and struggled with his velocity. Hughes is in great shape and has gotten his velocity back up so far in spring training. Hughes being successful is important for the Yankees' future, whereas Garcia isn't very important to the Yankees in the future.

Garcia had a solid year for the Yankees in 2011 and was crucial in their success. He was 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA, which was more than the Yankees could have asked for. However, he needs to have an unbelievable spring and have the other starters struggle if he wants to find a spot in the rotation.

The chances of the other starters horribly struggling and Garcia having a huge spring are not great. The rotation is most likely already set without it "technically" being set. A lot would have to happen for the starting rotation on Opening Day to not consist of Sabathia, Kuroda, Nova, Pineda and Hughes.