OTOH, a lot of prospects who project as starters often begin their careers in the pen, which can enable to both make the adjustment to MLB and establish trade value.

I agree. Every SP is important and having SP depth adds value to the organization. I’ll all for giving a player the opportunity to sink or swim in the rotation before being transitioned into a bullpen spot.

but given the scouting projections for Danimal here, I wouldnt be surprised to see him in the BP in 2009.

Apparently now every starting pitcher in the Yankee organization (thanks to Joba’s domination) is a candidate for the bullpen. Like gphunt said, McCutch is better suited to being a starter. Even if he is “just” a fifth starter, that still has value — especially as he’s someone who can throw innings. Unless they feel he has NO chance of making it to the big leagues as a starter, it seems like a waste to put him in the bullpen. Same goes for Alan Horne. It’s funny how people always say “So-and-so is JUST a fifth starter in the big leagues.” Last time I checked, fifth starters are important, too — and can cost ten mil a year nowadays. Pitching is thin and starting pitching is extremely hard to come by. If McCutch can actually come up and be the fifth starter on the big-league club, then he’s more valuable as a starter.

From Keith Law’s chat last week:

Pena (Lisbon, Portugal): As a Yankee’s fan who has lost hope in Phillip “Ace” Hughes and Ian Kennedy, should I have hope in Daniel McCutchen?

Keith Law: Bom dia. Tudo bem? Sinto muito, so se umas poucas palabras. McCutchen is at best a 5th starter in the majors, and probably is more in the Karstens/Wright mold. I’m curious to see how Rasner does next time out – the cutter is promising, as he always needed a third pitch.

I believe its Keith Law, but one of the ESPN insider scouting guys, thinks McCutcheon’s future is in the bullpen, long man type stuff. I’d have to look it up to confirm, but scouts arent very high on his upside, believing he’s a #4 or 5 at best… so he may be uber-competitive, but apparently his stuff wont translate well to get MLB hitters out.

Cashman on him, back on 2/26:

“He’s a starter for now but we believe he does have the ability to relieve. Once we get more performance indicators, we’ll see where he fits. But we like him.”

File this under: Ask Cash.

I don’t understand using him as a reliever. He has good command of atleast 3 pitches, but he isn’t overpowering with any of them like Joba is. And he eats the hell out of innings with his high ground ball rates. Just seems like a classic starting pitcher to me.

Although, the way both Mussina and Rasner are pitching, if you make Chamberlain a starter, it’s going to make for an interesting mix on the fight for that fifth spot in the rotation between Joba, Kennedy and Hughes.
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Tis better to have and not need, than to need and not have

Not quite sure why he hasn’t gotten the call yet. But I would think that we will see him before the year is out.