Yankees' Aaron Boone on impending starting rotation crunch: 'That’s a lifetime away'

(Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

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Yankees' Aaron Boone on impending starting rotation crunch: 'That’s a lifetime away'

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Yankees' Aaron Boone on impending starting rotation crunch: 'That’s a lifetime away'

2 / 2

Yankees' Aaron Boone on impending starting rotation crunch: 'That’s a lifetime away'

(Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

With Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole's impending returns over the next month or so, Yankees manager Aaron Boone and the organization have important decisions to make when it comes to whose spots they will take.

Ryan Weathers took the mound Saturday against the Orioles in his latest pitch to stay in the Yankees starting rotation and was effective. The southpaw pitched five-plus innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out five in the team's 9-4 win over Baltimore. It was Weathers' second win of the season and the performance dropped his ERA to 3.03.

"I thought Weathers was good," Boone said of Weathers' start. "Scattered a little bit, but other than those two walks, I thought he did a really good job. Had a lot of different ways to get you out. Sweeper, changeup, fastball were all playing well. Maybe ran out of a little steam there, but to get into the sixth inning there with another strong performance, really nice by him."

It's the fifth consecutive start Weathers has pitched at least five innings, and has allowed three runs or fewer in six of his seven starts, including one earned run or fewer in four starts. That's helped the Yankees starting rotation boast the best ERA (2.67) in the majors.

But in a rotation that features Max Fried and Cam Schlittler as stalwarts, there are only so many starts for this team when Rodon and Cole get back. Elmer Rodriguez was called up to take the spot of Luis Gil -- who was optioned earlier this week -- so Rodon could potentially slide in for Rodriguez when he's ready. But when Cole comes back, Weathers will be competing with Will Warren to remain in the rotation.

Boone was asked if he's started to think about what the team will do when both veteran pitchers come back, and the Yankees skipper simply said, “That’s a lifetime away.”

When a follow-up was asked on how he evaluates which pitchers can be best suited for a bullpen role, Boone offered the same response.

"Lifetime away. We’re in a good spot," he said. "Guys are throwing well. Looking forward to getting other guys into the mix. A lot between now and then."

Rodon and Cole are set to have rehab starts this coming Tuesday. Depending on how he feels after this next start, it could be Rodon's final rehab assignment before returning to the Yankees. And while Cole is still about a month or so away, evaluations are certainly ongoing.

But as Boone said, a lot can happen between now and when both are back, so fans and the baseball world will have to wait and see how the team approaches it when the time comes.