When I discussed the bullpen battles last week Kei Igawa was throw in, but never taken seriously as having a chance to make the team. It’s pretty clear that Joe Girardi will take 12 pitchers North, maybe even eight relievers for a week until a fifth starter is needed. If that is the case could Kei Igawa be given a shot to come out of the bullpen as a second lefty? According to Joel Sherman it’s a possibility.

It’s amazing that Igawa still have two more years left on his contract at $8 million dollars. Arguably this was Brian Cashman’s worst signing since it was simply a reaction to Dice-K going to Boston. There were plenty of warning signs that Igawa was, at best, a mediocre big league starter. What have the Yankees gotten for that money? Lots of wins for their AAA Scranton team as Igawa is the winningest pitcher in their history.

The Yankees already have Alfredo Aceves for length out of their bullpen. Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre are better options than Igawa, but left handers did hit only .189 against him last year, albeit in AAA. Those numbers are better than what Boone Logan, another potential LOOGY, put up for Gwinnett in 2009.

Kei Igawa might be the most expensive situational lefty in the history of baseball, but the Yankees should try and get something out of him. Remember, he also gives you another element out of the pen, which Logan can’t, with the ability to go long. It wouldn’t hurt to also keep their Japanese fan base happy after the departure of Hideki Matsui to Anaheim.

I think Logan gets the job, but perhaps Igawa should have be more in the conversation than originally thought. 

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, Kei Igawa, New York Yankees, Scranton Wilkes Barre Yankees