Via the Post -

Joba Chamberlain’s transition to the rotation might be on season-long hold. In a revelation that was neither confirmed nor denied by general manager Brian Cashman, manager Joe Girardi admitted yesterday that Chamberlain might remain a reliever the entire year.

“It’s possible, yes,” Girardi said when asked whether leaving Chamberlain in the bullpen could be done out of need.

When Girardi was asked about the fact Cashman had been saying it would happen at some point, the manager replied, “At some point could be next year. I don’t have an exact timetable when it’s going to happen right now.”

Cashman declined to reveal much, though he noted, “Joe didn’t say he wasn’t going in the rotation either.” Cashman said the team is exhausted from addressing Chamberlain’s status.

“He’s going to go in the rotation at some point,” Cashman said. “We’ll let you know when. He’s in the bullpen right now. We have a plan for Joba. We will let him know first.”

“If we put him in the rotation, there has to be a right time to do it,” Girardi said.

He also said Chamberlain would need to build up to 100 pitches. So Chamberlain probably would need four starts in the minors before joining the rotation, meaning the Yankees would be absent one of their most indispensable players for weeks.

“We’ll continue to monitor it,” Girardi said. “It’s not a pre-set decision. It’s a decision based on a lot of different things.”

“He’s in the bullpen for us right now,” Cashman said. “Nothing’s changed, other than [being] tired of talking about Joba’s role.”

The way the Yankees are fast-tracking Cox, Melancon and McCutchen this season in the minors, leads me to believe that they’re the variable here which will determine Joba’s conversion time-table. Joe’s just being honest here – saying the “when” is anyone’s guess. And, Cashman’s just being testy because Joba’s role (via Hank) is a sore topic for him.