GOOD NEWS AT LAST
Sevy throws without pain in rare bright moment for Yanks:
TAMPA — Luis Severino threw for the first time in two weeks Wednesday morning. The Yankees’ ace, who was shut down because of inflammation in his right rotator cuff, played catch from 60 feet on flat ground at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
He reported no pain or discomfort on the 25 throws, but said he felt “off” with his mechanics.
“Pretty nor- mal, I feel a little bit off, maybe because I have been out for two weeks. I would say tomorrow I would feel better,” Severino said after the workout. “From my whole body, not doing nothing and mechanics and all that kind of stuff.”
Severino will miss at least the first month of the season as he has to start his spring training over from this point.
The Yankees also officially announced their minor league deal with Gio Gonzalez on Wednesday, the veteran lefty they signed to add some depth to their already tested rotation.
CC Sabathia, who also threw on flat ground Wednesday and is expected to pitch in a minor league game Thursday, is likely to miss one or two times through the rotation. His spring was slowed by a heart procedure in December, which also slowed his rehab from knee surgery.
Gonzalez said he has improvised his normal spring routines back in his Miamiarea home with college and high school facilities and teams.
“I don’t think I am far away at all. I have been staying with my routine. In my last start, I pitched Monday, 88 pitches, five innings,” Gonzalez said. “I am trying to keep up with baseball, at least I am doing my routine and sticking to my guns. I’ll be ready to go. Hopefully I’ll be in a game pretty soon.”
Gonzalez, 33, is scheduled to throw his first bullpen for pitching coach Larry Rothschild on Thursday. “I think he’s a great pitcher. I hope he’s going to be on the team, he is a great guy who is going to help us,” Severino said. “I see him like CC, a veteran guy who can pitch and lead. He’s been around for a long time. I think it’s going to be a good thing for us.”
As Yankee GM Brian Cashman said Monday night after reaching a verbal agreement with Gonzalez, you can never have enough pitching.
This spring certainly reinforced that point for the Yankees with not just their rotation being affected, but setup man Dellin Betances now being shut down for a few days with an impingement in his right shoulder.
Gonzalez has tossed simulated games against hitters from St. Thomas Aquinas High School, the defending Florida state 8A champions. Aaron Boone had suggested the possibility that he would face big league hitters on Saturday in a Grapefruit League game.
“I’d be ready to start,” Gonzalez said. “As far as I see with the young guys, they are fantastic. Like I said I just want an opportunity to play.”
With injuries already plaguing the Yankees this spring, he will likely get that opportunity. The Yankees signed him to a $3 million deal with incentives and an opt-out on April 20.
They are not going to have their full rotation back by then, so it is likely that if Gonzalez can still get hitters out which he did more effectively after being traded to the Brewers last season - he will get plenty of opportunities to play.
Severino will not be back by April 20.
Thursday he is scheduled to to throw 50 times at 60 feet and then have a day off.
“I don’t know after that,” Severino said.
The normal progression would be to build up in those back-to-back days to 50 throws at 120 feet, or long toss. Then he would move to the mound.
Severino has not been on a mound since March 5, when he was warming up for his first scheduled Grapefruit League start. He said he felt something pull when he tried to throw his first slider in the bullpen. An MRI revealed inflammation in the shoulder, he received a cortisone shot and has done nothing but cardio for two weeks.
After signing a $40 million deal to buy out his arbitration years with an option for his first free agent year, Severino said he is frustrated to begin the season on the injured list.
But he wants to be cautious and get back for the rest of the season.
“I know I am not going to be there the first month of the season,” Severino said, “but I feel happy, I can go happy 100% healthy and help my team.”