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Yankees Facing Depressing Decision With Promising Pitcher
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- Yankees Facing Depressing Decision With Promising Pitcher
(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
A couple of years ago, New York Yankees right-hander Luis Gil was one of the top up-and-coming pitchers in baseball.
For the first half of 2024, Gil looked unhittable at times. Before the All-Star break, he boasted a 3.17 ERA and a 10.4 K/9, and while the 4.3 BB/9 was a bit concerning, he was so dominant that you put up with it.
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But the wheels came off for Gil after the All-Star break, when he logged a 4.20 ERA over 10 starts. His WHIP ballooned to 1.419, and he walked 28 batters across 49.1 innings.
Gil ended up winning the AL Rookie of the Year award that season because of his brilliant work early on, but it was clear he wasn't the same pitcher down the stretch.
The 28-year-old then missed the first few months of 2025 due to a lat injury and was limited to 11 starts. While he finished with a solid 3.32 ERA, it was obvious he wasn't very good, registering a confounding 6.5 K/9 and 1.24 K/BB ratio.
This year? Forget about it . Gil recorded a 4.61 ERA in four appearances and four starts, dealt with shoulder issues and tallied a brutal 0.94 K/BB ratio. His FIP was 7.13.
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There is no space for Gil in the Yankees' starting rotation, and while he does have a chance to compete for a bullpen spot next spring, can New York really trust a guy with such subpar command to work as a reliever?
The MLB non-tender deadline is Nov. 20, and Gil is slated to make $2.3 million in arbitration next season. That might be $2.3 million more than the Yankees are willing to pay.
It's been two-and-a-half years since Gil looked like a capable pitcher, and he has an extensive injury history that dates all the way back to his major-league debut in 2021.
Will New York actually roster the Dominican native for another campaign hoping that he can finally put it all together consistently?
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The Yanks will surely be looking to trade Gil in the coming weeks, but it will be difficult for them to extract any value out of him at this point.
Gil's velocity drop over the last couple of seasons has been stark, and his ability to fan hitters (5.6 K/9 in 2026) has completely disappeared. It also seems like his abysmal control is unfixable.
It may seem wild considering how promising of an arm Gil appeared to be back in the spring and early summer of 2024, but it's becoming more and more clear that his time in the Bronx may be coming to a close.
