Two years ago, the Yankees came up with an 18-game winner. Last year they came up with a 16-game winner. They got them not at the winter meetings, but rather out of their own system. In 2010 it was Phil Hughes with 18 wins, and last year it was rookie Ivan Nova with 16 victories. In that vein, general manager Brian Cashman said yesterday he has high hopes for Hector Noesi in 2012.
That’s why there is no sense of pitching panic when the rappelling GM flies to Dallas tomorrow. Sure, when Yu Darvish is posted, the Yankees will get in on the action in a big way and will have to outbid the Rangers, Blue Jays and perhaps the Red Sox. Noesi is Cashman’s ace in the hole right now.
The Yankees’ recent history with Hughes and Nova makes Cashman confident in Noesi.
“Noesi has the chance to be a good major league starter,’’ Cashman said yesterday of the right-hander, who is putting up strong numbers playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic with 17 strikeouts, six walks and a 2.22 ERA over 28 1/3 innings. “We like Noesi as much as we like Nova.’’
There is a lot to like. Both Nova and Noesi were signed in 2004. Both will turn 25 next month, the same age as Darvish.
“Right now Noesi is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation,’’ Cashman said.
That changes if Darvish lands in the Bronx. Roles and opportunities can change instantly in the Yankees universe, but Noesi appears to be ahead of so many other gifted young arms, including Dellin Betances, Manny Banuelos, Adam Warren and David Phelps. The Yankees also have enough young arms to move one or two to the bullpen, if needed, as the year progresses.