Joba Chamberlain Returns to the Bullpen

After weeks of speculation, the Yankees made it official: Joba Chamberlain is returning to the bullpen. No, the team's long-term expectations for Joba haven't changed -- if anything, it's simply a matter of logistics.

With only a few weeks left in the season, Joba would only be able to make a couple of starts (if that) were he to take the time needed to regain the stamina needed to return to the rotation. By moving back to the bullpen, he can help the team right now in their utterly futile last-ditch effort to make the playoffs. From Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News:

"You have the chance to help the team win every day, whether it's giving them an inning or two or a hitter here or there," Chamberlain said. "You just have to get in there and do as much as you can, not try to do too much."

[...] "In this situation, he can give us more valuable innings as a bullpen guy," Joe Girardi said. "This way, we can use him a lot more regularly."

If the move makes sense now, why won't it also make sense next April? To be clear, the Yankees have given no indication that Joba will stay in the bullpen next year, but it must be tempting. No, he wouldn't challenge for the closing job, not after Mariano Rivera signed a three-year extension last winter, but that's actually a good thing. Instead of being limited to ninth-inning appearances, he could put out fires when the game is still on the line, such as when a fading starter leaves the game in the middle of the seventh inning with runners on base.