The Yankees bullpen, like most other positions, appears to be pretty much set going into spring training. However, there are some interesting decisions that Joe Girardi will have to make before opening day:

Locks: Mariano Rivera, Damaso Marte, David Robertson, Alfredo Aceves and either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain

Competition: Boone Logan, Chad Gaudin, Sergio Mitre, Edwar Ramirez, Jonathan Albaladejo

Long Shot: Romulo Sanchez, Royce Ring

Call up Possibilities: Mark Melancon, Kevin Whelan, Wilken De La Rosa

Don’t Forget: Kei Igawa

I am going to assume, like last year, the Yankees will go with 12 pitchers to start the season. Assuming good health, Rivera, Marte, Robertson, Aceves and one of Hughes/Chamberlain will make the trip north, leaving two spot up for grabs. Will Girardi go with the second lefty, a long man, or another young arm with upside?

Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre are both out of options and must clear waivers before they are sent down. With the likelihood of Phil Hughes starting the season in the rotation, I see one of Gaudin or Mitre, along with the lefty Logan making the club. I always like two lefties out of the bullpen, although Marte great splits, and profiles less as a situation lefty and more as a true setup man. One thing going against Albaladejo and Ramirez is they have never fully seized any opportunity they received in the past. Albaladejo is particularly surprising since he came from Washington with a great deal of promise. If you remember he pitched well in big games down the stretch against the Mets and Phillies in 2007.

The Yankees have shown they are not averse to overhauling the bullpen once the season starts. Last year they started the year with Albaladejo, Ramirez, and Veras in the bullpen and none were there by season’s end. The beauty of the system is the plethora of relievers the Yanks have accumulated. There are enough young arms that miss bats and have upside where you don’t have to worry about a David Robertson struggling. It’s conceivable that youngsters like Melancon, Whelan, and De La Rosa become big parts of the 2010 bullpen by season’s end. You will also have veterans like Ring and Igawa who can get the call in an emergency situation. This is outstanding depth to have on a ballclub.

Regardless of the combination I can see the Yankees having one of the best, if not the best, bullpens in baseball. Give Brian Cashman credit for reconstructing the pen without spending big dollars in the free agent market.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com

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Tags: Boone Logan, Brian Cashman, Chad Gaudin, Damaso Marte, David Robertson, Edwar Ramirez, Joba Chamberlain, Joe Girardi, Jonathan Albaladejo, Jose Veras, New York Yankees, Phil Hughes, Sergio Mitre, Yankees Bullpen