Chad Gaudin Re-Acquired To Help New York Yankees' Depleted Bullpen

The Yankees are about to get a familiar face back on their pitching staff.

According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, the Yankees and Chad Gaudin have reached an agreement for the 2010 season.

Gaudin pitched very well for the Yankees both as a starter and reliever in 2009, going 2-0 with a 3.43 ERA in 11 starts.

Since all of the Yankees' starters are healthy, Gaudin will be heading to the bullpen for a long relief/middle relief role.

More importantly, Gaudin will be taking over the role of Alfredo Aceves.

Aceves has been on the disabled list since the beginning of May with a back injury. The Star-Ledger had reported that while trying to throw on flat ground, Aceves' back flared up again on Tuesday.

The Daily News said that Aceves could be headed towards surgery to fix a herniated disk in the back, so Aceves' return date is now unknown.

The 27-year-old Gaudin will bring a fresh arm to a Yankees pitching staff that needs stability in the worst way.

Gaudin was 0-2 with an 8.83 ERA with the Oakland A's this season before he was released on May 21. Because Gaudin refused a minor league assignment, it made him a free agent.

As long as Gaudin pitches the way he did in 2009, where he was not only undefeated, but the Yankees were undefeated every time he started, then he might be a great addition and a good luck charm of sorts for the Yankees.

Gaudin could also be a sixth starter just in case any one of the five starters in the rotation gets injured. If Gaudin started, it could also keep Sergio Mitre in the bullpen as the long reliever, which is where Mitre has pitched much better from rather than Mitre as a starter.

With the Yankees five games back of the first-place Rays right now, the Yankees need all the help and extra arms they can get. Time will tell to see if this re-addition of Gaudin will help the Yankees.