New York Yankees: Will Hughes, Garcia or Kuroda Be the Odd Man Out?

It seems like April is a month-long audition for everyone in the Yankees rotation except CC Sabathia.

Even though Sabathia hasn't looked sharp so far, he is far and away the Yankees' ace.

The other starters, however, may be going to the mound knowing they aren't going to get many chances to impress manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman with Andy Pettitte and Michael Pineda in their rear view mirror.

Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia appear to be the most vulnerable. But that could change a week from now.

Hughes, who was only so-so in his first start, was roughed up by the Los Angeles Angels in his second outing.

Garcia may have given the Yankees an unexpected boost last season, but he appears to have been re-signed primarily as an insurance policy.

Hiroki Kuroda was terrific against the Angels in his second start, pitching eight shutout innings. Ivan Nova was also impressive when he defeated the Baltimore Orioles. 

It's a given that Pettitte and boy wonder Pineda will be in the rotation when they are ready.

Pettitte is as reliable as any Yankee pitcher has ever been. And he comes up big in the postseason.

Pineda is the heralded right-hander who the Yankees envision as their future No. 1 starter. He is recovering from inflammation of the right shoulder and you can bet he won't be rushed back until he is completely healthy.

So who in this game of pitcher's musical chairs is left standing when they are ready?

Let's take a look at the prospects for the other Yankee starters.

Phil Digging Himself a Hughes Hole

Starter or reliever?

That has been the million dollar question that the Yankees and Phil Hughes haven't been able to answer for more than five years.

Hughes has had success in both roles, but his development has also been slowed because the Yankees will not make a commitment to him in either role.

This is a team that values age and experience, so Hughes doesn't have a lot of wiggle room with Michael Pineda and Andy Pettitte likely to join the Yankees in May.

He had an impressive spring and showed glimpses of the pitcher who was 18-8 in 2010, but after a so-so opening start against the Tampa Bay Rays, Hughes was roughed up by the Los Angeles Angeles.

If he doesn't put together some strong starts, he may not even be relegated to bullpen duty. He may instead be sent down to the minors and might not get another chance to join the Yankees until September.

Hughes' future with the Yankees may hinge on what he does the rest of April.

Kuroda Quiets the Critics for Now

The burning question about Hiroki Kuroda entering the 2012 season was how he would fare in the hitter-happy American League and Yankee Stadium after spending four years with the Dodgers in a pitcher's park.

Doubts were raised when he was unimpressive against the Tampa Bay Rays in his first start, but Kuroda was terrific when he made his Yankee Stadium debut and pitched eight shutout innings against the Los Angeles Angels.

That has to make Yankees management feel better about the free-agent acquisition, but the truth is we won't know about Kuroda until he has been around the league once or twice.

He has the experience and pitching know-how the Yankees value. He's also an innings-eater.

But it would be wrong to expect him to be No. 2 in the rotation. Kuroda is at best a No. 3.

In that role he can provide double-digit victories and about 200 innings.

But given the mood swings in the Bronx, Kuroda shouldn't get too comfortable just yet. 

How Long Will Freddy Garcia Be Wearing Yankee Pinstripes?

Freddy Garcia was a revelation for the Yankees in 2011, finishing 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 25 starts.

That earned him a new one-year contract and a spot at the back end of the Yankees' rotation.

After the team traded for Michael Pineda, signed free-agent Hiroki Kuroda and welcomed back Andy Pettitte after a one-year retirement, no one would blame Garcia for wondering why the Yankees even bothered offering him a contract.

He was their best option at the time. Garcia, who is 35 and had three injury-filled years in his early 30s, was penciled in as a No. 5 starter.

Garcia is an asset in the fifth spot. His innings and starts have to be managed, but most contenders would like to have someone with his savvy in that role.

If he becomes the odd man out (or one of the odd men out), however, the Yankees might want to trade or release him rather demote him to the bullpen.

Sure they would like to have him around as an insurance policy, but Garcia is not a reliever. He has made just two relief appearances and 328 starts since coming up with the Seattle Mariners in 1999.

Garcia did not pitch well in his first start, lasting just 4.2 innings and allowing four runs to the Baltimore Orioles.

That won't do with Pettitte and Pineda looming. 

Nova Out to Show 2011 Wasn't a Fluke

Ivan Nova had a breakout season in 2011, finishing 16-4. Not even the Yankees could have imagined anything that good.

The question is whether the 25-year-old Nova can come close to matching that performance this season.

Given the Yankees' recent history with young pitchers (see Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy), no one was mistaking Nova for another CC Sabathia in the making.

After two starts, however, Nova appears on his way to another outstanding season. He limited the Baltimore Orioles to two runs in seven innings in his season debut, then struggled against the Los Angeles Angels but left in the sixth with an 8-4 lead.

Although there was spring training speculation about whether he would start the season in the bullpen or minors, Nova must be regarded as No. 2 in the rotation right now.

He may slide to No. 3 when Andy Pettitte is ready and No. 4 when Michael Pineda is called up, but Nova looks to be an integral part of the Yankees' pennant run in 2012.

Is There a Mystery Starter in the Yankees' Future?

Despite the directive from Hal and Hank Steinbrenner that payroll must come down (yes, even for the Yankees), general manager Brian Cashman will still go shopping before this summer's trade deadline to shore up the pitching staff if needed.

It is difficult to envision that the Yankees will pick up a pitcher with the depth they have in their rotation, but every team knows you can never have too much pitching.

Roy Oswalt is a free agent who is sitting at home waiting for the right time and the right team.

He might be pulling a Roger Clemens and looking to pitch for just a half season, especially given his back problems.

If the Chicago White Sox fall out of contention, then Jake Peavy or Gavin Floyd might be available.

The Yankees' young prospects Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos are each off to a rocky start, and it seems doubtful that they would be thrown into the heat of a pennant race.

Chances are the Yankees will settle on five of the seven starters they have by the time July rolls around. 

But don't be totally surprised if a new face is eventually added to the mix.