Will Al Leiter Make The Team?

[DoubleX]

Anyone think Leiter has a chance? Octavio Dotel is likely out to mid-year, so that's one open bullpen spot, and with Carl Pavano likely to be on the DL at the start of the season, that's another spot (though the team might just carry one less pitcher at the beginning since it will only need 4 starters for a few weeks). So does Al have a chance? He'll likely be competing against guys like Scott Proctor, Ramiro Mendoza, Darrell Rasner, Jorge De Paula, Colter Bean, Matt Smith, and Sean Henn for those final two spots.

Also, Leiter is not on the WBC roster. Will that help or hurt his chances to make the Yankees? An impressive showing could certainly help him, but what if he doesn't get much work and/or struggles in the WBC, while his competition in Yankees camp are making impressions on the coaches everyday.

I have to say, that at first I was against bringing Leiter back since I believed Torre would give him more looks than he probably deserves at the expense of some of the young guys who have been waiting in Yankee purgatory to finally make an impression. I also think with bringing in Mike Myers, and especially Ron Villone (who can spot-start), have Leiter as a lefty in the pen would be superfluous. But I'm kinda starting to root for him a little bit. Not sure why.

[farmsystem]

So far Mike Meyers and Ron Villone haven't looked too good. Hey, if Al Leiter can get the job done like he did last year out of the bullpen I don't see why he wouldn't make the team.

[Mattingly]

Leiter likely to retire after Classic
Veteran left-hander has pitched 19 seasons in the Majors

[DoubleX]

Leiter likely to retire after Classic
Veteran left-hander has pitched 19 seasons in the Majors

I don't know if that article means to imply so much that Leiter will just hang them up once the WBC is over, as much is it is implying that if he doesn't make the Yankees, which is a very distinct possibility, that the WBC we'll be he last competitive performance.