Yankees ace Cole to have MRI on elbow
CLEARWATER, Fla. — New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will have an MRI of his right elbow after experiencing issues in bouncing back following spring training starts.
The 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner has been durable in career, making at least 30 starts in each of the last six full regular seasons.
“He described it as his recovery, leading into his next start, has been more akin to what he feels in the season when he’s making 100 pitches,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday. “He usually doesn’t have the recovery issues he’s having. It’s been more of a challenge, more taxing. So we’re going to get an MRI to see what we’re dealing with here.”
The 33-year-old has been throwing fewer pitches in his spring training starts this year than other rotation members.
“I think there’s a level of discomfort, but I wouldn’t describe it as he’s in pain,” Boone said. “His stuff and his command has been really good in his outings. He’s just having a hard time recovering like he’s used to.’’
Cole is entering the fifth season of a $324 million, nine-year contract that pays $36 million annually.
Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge is not expected to play again until Wednesday due to spring training fatigue.
“A little mid-spring kind of beat up just with all the work they do in the cage and backfield and stuff,” Boone said.
Judge has not taken on-field batting practice the last couple days and was replaced after three innings and two at-bats, in which he struck out both times, in Sunday’s game against Atlanta.
“We want to make sure especially with your veteran guys, they’re not overdoing at this time of year, but at the same time, obviously you’ve got to ramp them up,” Boone said. “He actually does a really good job of governing and protecting himself.”
Giolito will have surgery on elbow
Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito will undergo right elbow surgery on Tuesday, potentially ending his first season with the team before it even begins.
Manager Alex Cora confirmed the development to reporters on Monday. The decision comes after Giolito traveled to Alabama last week to get a second opinion from Dr. Jeffrey R. Dugas.
Giolito, who signed a $38.5 million, two-year deal with the Red Sox, made two starts in spring training. He tossed a pair of scoreless innings in his first outing before reporting discomfort in the elbow after getting tagged for four runs and three walks in 2 1/3 innings against Minnesota on March 1.
This will be the second major right-elbow surgery for the 29-year-old Giolito. The righthander had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 31, 2012, less that two months after Washington made him the top overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft.
3B Davis released by San Francisco
Third baseman J.D. Davis was released by the San Francisco Giants on Monday after beating the team last month in salary arbitration and will get just over $1.1 million in termination pay rather than a $6.9 million salary.
Davis was awarded the salary by a three-person panel rather than the team’s $6.55 million offer. Under baseball’s collective bargaining agreement, negotiated contracts for arbitrationeligible players are guaranteed, while salaries decided by an arbitration panel are not. That allowed the Giants to release Davis for 30 days’ termination pay, which came to $1,112,903.
Davis, who turns 31 next month, hit .248 with 18 homers and 69 RBIS last year.
Braves option Smith-shawver
The Atlanta Braves optioned top prospect AJ Smith-shawver to Class AAA Gwinnett on Monday, moving closer to settling on their pitching staff for opening day.
The move was not surprising, given the 21-year-old righthander’s inexperience.
The move clears the way for the Braves to pick between Bryce Elder and Reynaldo López for the fifth spot in the starting rotation behind Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Chris Sale and Charlie Morton.