It went down to the final few days of spring training last year before Yankees picked Gil, who went on to win the AL Rookie of the Year. Warren pitched to a 6.58 ERA in 23 Triple-A starts and was 0-3 with a 10.32 ERA in six Yankees games over two call-ups, five as a starter.

At the time of Warren’s last start — March 4 against the Phillies — he already had moved a step closer to the big-league rotation because of the lat injury suffered by Luis Gil that will keep the reigning AL Rookie of the Year sidelined for at least the first three months of the regular season.

I t may not be the way they drew it up, but the Yankees have the makings of a formidable starting five in their rotation. Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt will lead th