Injuries rain on Yanks’ rotation
With the Yankees and Mets game rained out on Monday, the Bombers will now need to make a decision on their open rotation spot sooner than later. Domingo German went on the injured list Sunday with a left hip flexor strain and now the Yankees will need to fill his scheduled spot on Saturday.
On Monday, Aaron Boone was no closer to making a decision.
“That will be Saturday, so it could be Chance Adams, it could be David Hale or it could be an opener, depending on how we use our guys going forward,” Boone said.
The Yankees and Mets will play a split-admission doubleheader on Tuesday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. In response, Boone is just pushing back his scheduled starters. Masahiro Tanaka, who came off the paternity list on Monday, will pitch the first game. James Paxton will pitch the nightcap.
Fans holding tickets for Monday’s game can use them for the first game only. Tickets for Tuesday’s game are valid for the nightcap only. Tickets for Monday’s game may also be exchanged for another regular-season
game.
The news on German was encouraging Monday. An MRI showed no damage and the Yankees are hopeful he will be able to return to the rotation in 10 days once he receives a cortisone shot on Tuesday.
But the Yankees have more than shortterm concerns about their rotation. Speaking with WFAN’s Mike Francesa Monday afternoon, Brian Cashman admitted the front office will need to bring in some help despite the fact that this team has survived major injuries. Besides missing sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for significant portions of this first part of the season, the Yankees have been without ace Luis Severino (strained right lat) and CC Sabathia for two stints on the IL with a knee issue.
Giants World Series hero Madison Bumgarner is likely to dealt before July 31, as will Blue Jays starters Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez. Rangers starter Mike Minor is reportedly on the market, along with Detroit’s Matthew Boyd.
“It’s our job in the front office to reinforce it, add to it and improve upon it, so now we’re past the draft, time of the season, engaging opposition both leagues and seeing what their needs are, seeing if you can match up,” Cashman said.
He said he has already started these conversations.
“The most important thing to do is make sure you bring something in that’s going to have an impact on us in a real positive way. We were able to do that last summer and we need to do that again this summer,” Cashman said of bringing in J.A. Happ, Lance Lynn and Luke Voit last year.
The Yankees were in on the bidding for free agent lefty Dallas Keuchel last week, but were unwilling to go too far over the prorated rate for the qualifying offer ($11.3 million) that he turned down from the Astros last winter.
“We made an offer that we were comfortable with and that was it. Atlanta made a higher one,” Cashman said. “It wasn’t like a back and forth. We had two offers that we ultimately made and then we stopped and waited to hear if it was a yes or a no. We were very transparent about where we’re at. There was a financial limitation until we go to the next luxury tax level. That was obviously conveyed.”