Michael Pineda is struggling and later this month the New York Yankees will have one less option in which to deal with the right-hander.

Brian Cashman recently offered Larry Rothschild three options -- keep him in the rotation, send him to the bullpen or demote him to the Minor Leagues.

"Right now [Joe Girardi and Rothschild] feel strongly that they want to keep at him with him [in the Majors]," Cashman said.

Pineda has the worst ERA (6.92) among qualified pitchers. He reaches four years and 172 days of service time on June 14, and 172 days equates to a full season when accounting for service time. Thus, Pineda becomes a five-year player on that date and a player can no longer be sent to the Minors without his consent when he accrues five years.

"I am aware of the options, but under the current circumstances we want to keep him in the rotation," Cashman said. "He will make his next start [Thursday in Detroit] and we will have further conversations."