Cesar Vargas

Early-season injuries in the rotation opened the door for Vargas to take a starting job in mid-April, but he lasted just seven starts before an elbow injury of his own landed him on the disabled list. Used as a reliever in the minors by the Yankees in 2014 and 2015, Vargas' four-pitch mix -- including a fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup -- prompted a role change coming out of spring training. For a 24-year-old pitching in the big leagues for the first time, Vargas held his own, but an elevated walk rate (4.0 BB/9) and struggles to keep the ball in the yard (1.3 HR/9) drove his ERA to 5.03 in those outings. Initially expected to miss three weeks with his elbow ailment, Vargas was diagnosed with a flexor strain and ultimately missed the rest of the season. The expectation is that he will be healthy following a stint in winter ball during the offseason, with the hope of competing for a spot in the rotation during spring training.