Severino out at least another 6 weeks, could be used out of bullpen

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said his team will be without Luis Severino for six or more weeks and their ace could move to a bullpen role when he does return this season, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB Network Radio.

In order to limit his workload, the Yankees could also rely on him as a 75-pitch starter. New York boasts the second best relief corps in the majors this year, according to FanGraphs, with a collective 4.05 ERA and 4.10 FIP.

Severino has yet to throw a pitch this year due to shoulder and lat injuries. The right-hander recently began a throwing program, which Cashman admitted never should have happened after Severino was shut down due to a setback.

At minimum, his current timetable puts the Yankees past the July 31 trade deadline and into late August.

While Severino's absence could hurt the team's chances of holding on to first place down the stretch, Cashman doesn't expect to trade top prospect Deivi Garcia for a rental, according to Hoch. Garcia, 20, is fresh off starting the MLB Futures Game and owns a 3.00 ERA and 2.18 FIP over 10 starts at Double-A this year.

Only two starters for the Yankees have thrown more than 75 innings through the first half of the season, with the rotation owning a 4.22 ERA and 4.61 FIP without Severino this year. For his career, the 25-year-old flamethrower owns a 3.51 ERA and 3.38 FIP over four seasons.