LAKELAND, Fla. – Second baseman Starlin Castro was among the Yankees’ most significant offseason upgrades, but Joe Girardi also “knew we were giving up a really good piece” in parting with versatile pitcher Adam Warren in that trade with the Cubs.
Girardi acknowledged that Bryan Mitchell is a leading candidate this spring to fill that void of staff swingman – as both a rotation fill-in or a long reliever – and the righty got off to a strong start by hurling two scoreless innings as the starting pitcher in a 3-0 loss Friday to the Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium.