For a team that has the sixth-best record in baseball, not much seems to be going well for the New York Yankees these days. The Yankees were defeated at home by the Rays earlier this week, and their problems with injuries from 2019 have shifted to 2020.
On Friday, the Yankees announced that three players have been placed on the injured list: LHP Luis Avilan (shoulder inflammation), LHP James Paxton (forearm flexor), and SS Gleyber Torres (grade 1 left quad and hamstring strains). The Yankees did not announce a schedule for their return, although the nature of the Torres and Paxton injuries suggests they will miss weeks, not days.
The Yankees now have 10 players on the injured list. Here are the other seven:
New York is without his starting midfielder (LeMahieu and Torres), his top two hitters (Judge and Stanton), his no. 2 starters (Severino), and two top-set men (Britton and Kahnle). Last season, the Yankees sent an MLB record of 30 different players to the injured list. That prompted them to renew their training staff after the season. Doesn’t seem to help much.
Torres suffered his injury while carrying a ground ball during Thursday’s game. He stumbled on his way to the first base, although it is not clear if the stanza caused the injury or the injury caused the stanza. Here is the play:
With LeMahieu and Torres sidelined, the Yankees will turn to reserves Thairo Estrada and Tyler Wade in midfield. Both are young and have abilities but are unproven at the MLB level. Putting Miguel Andujar on third base and Gio Urshela on second as short is a possibility. The Yankees have veteran infielders Matt Duffy and Jordy Mercer on the alternate side.
Paxton started the game Thursday and kept the Rays hitless by four innings before the wheels came off in the fifth inning. He complained of elbow closeness after the match and was sent for an MRI. Forearm and flexor injuries are a common precursor to Tommy John surgery, though not always. It does not sound like Paxton currently needs surgery.
Paxton had back surgery in February and completed his rehabilitation on schedule in May. He was a full participant in Summer Camp, although his speed has been all year, and now he’s out with an arm injury. If a man who is sitting mostly 95-99 mph comes out throwing 91-94 mph, the chance is quite what that is, and that is the case here.
Clarke Schmidt, New York’s chief prospect, was impressive in spring training and summer camp and was able to get the call to replace Paxton. Other options include swingman Michael King and judge Jonathan Loaisiga, who has taken on a more bull role since Kahnle’s injury. Judges Nick Nelson and Miguel Yajure are other options.
The Yankees have not announced any corresponding moves for Friday’s injured list placements and they may not for a few days. Their weekend series with the Mets has been postponed due to the outbreak of the Mets’ COVID-19. The Yankees’ next scheduled game is Tuesday night in Atlanta. Until then, they may not make additions to their roster.
The August 31 deadline is just 10 days away and the Yankees sought to be in the market for pitching help (both rotation and bullpen), even before Britton and Paxton were hurt. GM Brian Cashman will surely increase these efforts now. The Torres injury could also push the Yankees into the infield market.
