Yankees pitcher Rodón will start season on injured list
TAMPA, Fla. — Carlos Rodón’s debut for the New York Yankees is going to have to wait.
The veteran left-handed pitcher will begin the season on the injured list due to a left forearm strain.
Rodón will be shut down for 7-10 days, squashing any chance he’ll be ready by opening day, New York general manager Brian Cashman told reporters Thursday.
The Yankees signed Rodón to a six-year, $162 million deal in the offseason to join a starting rotation that includes Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes and Luis Severino.
Rodón struggled in his first spring training appearance, allowing five runs on six hits in two innings of work against Atlanta on Sunday.
Cashman said Rodon’s elbow is fine.
The 30-year-old is coming off a spectacular season
with San Francisco, going 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 178 innings while making the All-star game for the second consecutive year.
Phillies: Philadelphia slugger Bryce Harper has joined his teammates at spring training and hasn’t ruled out being back by the All-star break following Tommy John surgery. “Things can change either way,” the two-time National
League MVP said Thursday. “I could be after, I could be before. But as right now that’s the date we kind of solidified. We’re not going to rush. We’re going to be smart about it.” Harper was hurt in April and last played right field on April 16 in Miami. He had surgery in November. Entering the fifth season of a $330 million, 13-year contract, Harper is currently taking swings with a bat but not facing pitches. “I’ve never dealt with anything like an elbow, so definitely it’s different waters for me,” Harper said .... Phillies reliever Gregory Soto threw 24 pitches over one inning during a simulated game one day after reporting for spring training. Soto’s arrival from the Dominican Republic was delayed due to visa problems. The two-time All-star was obtained from the Detroit Tigers as part of a five-player deal in January.
Pirates: There appears to be plenty of life left in Rich Hill’s left arm on the eve of his 43rd birthday. The 17-year veteran allowed one run and two hits for Pittsburgh on Thursday in a 10-7 loss to Detroit. Hill, who turns 43 on Saturday, mixed speeds and arm angles to keep the Tigers off balance. The Pirates signed Hill to an $8 million, one-year deal, hoping he will provide both a boost on the mound and in the clubhouse for a team littered with young players, particularly in the starting rotation.
Note: Albert Pujols is open to transitioning into coaching. Eventually. Just not yet. The retired slugger popped into the St. Louis Cardinals spring training camp on Thursday to visit with former teammates and while he believes coaching or some other role within Major League Baseball will happen, he’s not eager to give a timetable. “Listen, 23 years and 24 years, following a schedule from February all the way to October is tough,” said Pujols, who retired in October after 22 years split mostly between the Cardinals and the Los Angeles Angels. “Now I have the freedom to have my own schedule. That’s something that I’m grateful about.” Pujols spent a week as a special assistant with the Angels in Arizona shortly after camp opened but the dalliance was just that. He’s embracing retired life after a career that ended with 703 home runs, fourth on the career list. Pujols stressed he wasn’t going to put a “stamp” on when the right time will be to return to the game in a larger capacity. “If it happens next year it’s great,” he said. “Knowing myself I think I’ll let that moment come and I’ll revisit if it’s something I think that works, I’ll do it for sure.”