ESPN's Buster Olney said he heard Joba Chamberlain could open next season in the bullpen in an effort to limit his innings total for the season.
If the Yankees don't think Chamberlain is ready to throw 200 innings, then two months in the pen, followed by a move to the rotation, might be just the thing to see that he's strong in September and October. Still, it'd also be a good way to get him hurt if they don't handle the move back to the rotation correctly. For what little it's worth, the Yankees have said all winter that they're planning on starting Chamberlain off in the rotation next year. If that doesn't happen, Ian Kennedy would likely be the fifth starter